1990 CHEVROLET LUMINA Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR PANELS ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES WERE EXPOSED. ALSO, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN ON FROM OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO GET THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TO OPEN AND CLOSE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT ALL OF THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO WORK EXCEPT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED MORE THAN ONCE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY TIGHT UPON MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE SAFELY DRIVEN AND A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 91V005000 (SEAT BELTS) AND 90V054000 (SEAT BELTS). AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE INSPECTED, BUT DID NOT CONFIRM THAT AN INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED BEFORE SELLING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,591.

Mileage: 211,591

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. WHEN THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS IN THE UPSIDE DOWN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS STEERED INTO A DRIVEWAY. UPON INSPECTION, THE SHAFT BETWEEN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE RACK AND PINION WAS OBSERVED TO BE DETACHED. WHEN THE RACK AND PINION WAS REASSEMLED IT APPEARED TO BE VERY LOOSE. THE CONTACT IS A PRIVATE MECHANIC BY TRADE.

DT:THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 00V189000 CONCERNING FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS RUSTED, AND THE FRAME DROPPED TO THE GROUND. ALSO, THE STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED AND BROKE. HE WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITHOUT INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT COST. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR WORK. THEY STATED THE REPAIR COST WOULD EXCEED THE COST OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

Mileage: 174,000

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A DEFECT WITH THE REAR CRADLE WHERE 1 OR BOTH REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE CRADLE IS NO LONGER SUPPORTED BY THE ENGINE MOUNTING, AND THE STEERING INTERMIDIATE SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING GEAR, CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING. *AK

Mileage: 124,800

WHILE TURNING IN ANY DIRECTION AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE WOULD BE A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN RECALL 97V05800, BUT THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC WOULD NOT REPAIR THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK

Mileage: 15,000

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES.*AK

CONSUMER HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR FRAME CRADLE BOLTS TO BE REPLACED UNDER A RECALL, ON THE WAY TO DEALER, CRADLE BOLT BROKE AND IT CAUSED STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE FROM STEERING GEAR. CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP SIGN WHEN IT BROKE, THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK

ON MAY 8, 2000, VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP SHOP. REPAIRS INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF THE STARTER AND REPLACEMENT OF THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER SWITCH WHICH ACTUATES SEVERAL FUNCTIONS. ON MAY 13, 2000, MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A 1-CAR ACCIDENT WHEN THE STEERING FAILED DUE TO THE FRONT BOLTS ON THE ENGINE CARRIAGE DETACHING FROM THE FRAME OF THE CAR. THE RESULT WAS THAT THE ENGINE DROPPED AND THE STEERING FAILED. AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED IN A REPORT THAT IT APPEARED THESE BOLTS HAD BEEN LOOSENED AND WITHDRAWN SEVERAL INCHES RECENTLY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, LEAVING ONLY A FRACTION OF AN INCH ENGAGED IN THE RETAINERS ABOVE IN THE FRAME, THEREBY LEADING TO THE FAILURE. IT IS APPARENT THAT THE TECHNICIAN WHO REPLACED THE STARTER DID THIS AS A SHORTCUT WHEN HE REPLACED THE STARTER. SINCE THIS IS DENIED BY THE DEALER, I AM BEING FORCED TO TAKE THEM TO COURT AT THE PRESENT TIME.

RECALL 00V189000/ CRADLE BOLTS : WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT WAS NOTICED THAT STEERING SHAFT WAS HANGING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE RECALL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DIRECTIONAL IN THE STEERING COLUMN OVERHEATED, CAUSING SMOKE FROM THE STEERING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH AND NOTICED THAT STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND HARD TO STEER. ALSO, REAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING DOWN/ AND REAR MOUNT PIECE WAS ON THE GROUND. REAR MOTOR MOUNTS SUPPORT THE ENGINE . *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION FRONT ENGINE MOUNTS DROPPED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FRONT ENGINE CRADLE FELL OFF AND CONSUMER LOST STEERING. STEERING WHEEL DISCONNECTED FROM TIRES WITHOUT WARNING , CONSUMER FELT THIS COULD BE FATAL.*AK

HAD INSTALLED AN ALARM SYSTEM. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER IT WAS SHORTING OUT, AND BLOWING FUSES. REPLACED FUSES. COUPLE DAYS LATER AFTER REPLACING FUSES, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DIDN'T CONTACT DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. *AK

SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL IN ISSUED FOR LUMINA IN WISCONSIN. I SHOULD BE PAID FOR REPAIRS THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR DUE TO DEFECT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

THE FRAME DROPPED BECAUSE THE FRONT BOLTS THAT HOLD THE FRAME TOGETHER WITH BUSHINGS BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT PORTION OF THE FRAME TO DROP ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 8". IN ADDITTION THE POWER STEERING BECAME RESTRICTED AND CAUSED ASUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD CONSUMER, FELT STEERING WHEEL MOVED UP.THEN AFTER DRIVING A LITTLE WAYS DOWN ROAD, SHE REALIZED SHE DID NOT HAVE ANY STEERING POWER AT ALL. SHE MANAGED TO PARK THE AUTOMOBILE OFF THE ROAD AND GET OUT.*AK

NHTSA RECALL # 97 V 058 000 / VEHICLE HAVE EXPERIENCED BOTH FRONT AND REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULLING THROUGH THE RETAINERS. DEALER NOTIFED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR REAR CRADLES, BUT NOT THE FRONT UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. CONSUMER SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INORMATION. *AK

I WS DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN I HEARD A NOISE LIKE I WENT OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE. THEN I FELT A PULLING TO THE RIGHT, LIKE A FLAT TIRE,SO I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. WHEN I STOPPED AND LOOKED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL, IT LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING WAS FALLING. I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND TRIED TO MOVE IT FURTHER INTO THE LOT, AND THERE WAS A NOISE AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. WHEN I GOT OUT, THE FRONT ENGINE CRADLE HAD FALLEN TO THE GROUND. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER WORKED. AT FIRST LOOK, THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND MY MECHANIC THOUGHT THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS HAD BROKEN, BUT WHEN THE MECHANIC WENT TO FIX IT, HE FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE CRADLE HAD ROTTED OUT AND HAD FALLEN. IT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ENGINE MOUNTS, TIE RODS, AND FRONT UPPER MOTOR MOUNT. IF I HAD NOT PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT, I WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. INITIALLY, IT WAS REPORTED TO CHEVY THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAD BROKEN. WE WILL BE SENDING THEM A LETTER WITH PICTURES OF WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE PICTURES ARE DEVELOPED. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE APPARENT UNLESS A MECHANIC WAS AWARE THAT THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM AND CHECKED THE ENGINE CRADLE REGULARLY. *AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR ON THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS, AND THE CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE FRONT CRADLE BOLTS ARE THE SAME WAY,.THE DEALER IS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL #97V058 IN JUN 97. VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE , THE FRONT END BECAME DISENGAGED, THE CRADLE BECAME LOOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF ALL POWER STEERING. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS TURNING 360 DEGREES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

STEERING FREE SPINS.

SMOKE IS COMING OUT OF STEERING COLUMN, AND PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BUT RETURNED ON THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING FRONT CARRIAGE FELL DOWN, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, NEARLY CAUSED CRASH; FRONT CRADLE BOLTS/WASHER RUSTED/CORRODED, PULLED OUT; ACCORDING TO DEALER, NEED NEW CARRIAGE, POWER STEERING LINES, CRADLE BOLTS NEED REPLACING. *AK

RACK AND PINION FAILED.

RECEIVED NOTICE (#97V058000) ON COMPANY VEHICLE; SPOKE TO JEANETTE FISHER & INFORMED NO CHEVY DEALER HAS PARTS & DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL. SAID KEEP CALLING BACK EVERY 2 WEEKS. DEALER WILL NOT COMPENSATE FOR NON-USE OF COMPANY VEHICLE. *AK

THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINER DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THIS MOUNTING LOCATION, AND THE STEERING SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR HER VEHICLE. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO REPAIR THE DEFECT, AND THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE RECALL WERE ON BACK ORDER UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 97. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MID MAY OF 97. *AK

STEERING SHAFT BROKE AWAY FROM STEERING RACK, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.

STEERING PROBLEM.

TIE ROD ENDS FAILED.

WHILE AT STOP SIGN, ANOTHER VEHICLE REARENDED THE LUMINA AFTER BEING REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE,*AK

STEERING COLUMN SMOKED. *SD

THE RACK AND PINION BOLTS, WHICH HOLD RACK TO FRAME, WERE LOOSE. *AK

WORN OUT TIE ROD ENDS. *AK

WHEN MAKING A TURN STEERING SEIZES INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP DOESN'T KNOW WHATS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. TT