NHTSA Defect Investigation List for the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
The Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) is an office within the NHTSA which investigates serious safety problems in the design, construction or performance of vehicles. The NHTSA is authorized to order manufacturers to recall and repair vehicles, if the ODI finds a safety issue. NHTSA investigations for the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina, both ongoing and closed, are listed below:
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POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA03019
Component: Steering*
Summary: GM's letter to NHTSA dated December 11, 2003, expands its original recall (NHTSA 02V286) to include certain W-body vehicles: 96-97 olds cutlass supreme; 98 olds intrigue; 97-98 olds cutlass; 97-98 chevy lumina, Monte Carlo and Malibu; 96 Pontiac Grand Prix; and 96-98 Buick regal. The number of vehicles recalled is 750,283. GM determined that failure of the rack and pinion is related to damage of the lower pinion bearing and the level of the pinion bearing pre-load spring force. GM states, "higher rack pre-load spring force (133 lb.) is the design characteristic most closely associated with higher bearing damage rates in most of the vehicle applications that used the general bearing company (gbc) bearing."all of the vehicles covered in the expanded recall have the 133 lb spring force. The 96 lumina/Monte Carlo and 97-98 century W-body vehicles included in this investigation utilize a lower spring force and are not included in the recall.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA03019 »
* This defect investigation is filed under 2 related vehicle components.
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POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE NHTSA Defect Investigation #RQ03001
Component: Steering*
Summary: GM conducted a safety recall (NHTSA # 02V286) to address a steering defect pertaining to a lower pinion bearing (lpb) within the rack and pinion steering gear (R&P). The recall covered 1,159,156 model year 1997-1998 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles built between March 1, 1996 and October 31, 1997, 1996-1998 Pontiac trans sport, Chevrolet lumina apv, Chevrolet Venture, Oldsmobile Silhouette minivans, and Chevrolet cavalier and Pontiac sunfire sedans built between January 1, 1996 and October 31, 1997. ODI opened this rq after receiving reports that other vehicles were exhibiting the same symptoms as the recalled vehicles. Based on ODI's review of technical and complaint data collected during the rq, the W-cars are associated with either a higher steering complaint rate or a higher lpb failure rate than the other vehicles investigated under the rq and are above or near the rates for the recalled vehicles. Thus, ODI will further examine the W-cars (1996-1997 Oldsmobile cutlass supreme, 1996-1998 Buick regal, Chevrolet lumina, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 1997-1998 Buick century, and 1998 Oldsmobile intrigue) under a new investigation, engineering analysis (ea)03-019.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #RQ03001 »
* This defect investigation is filed under 2 related vehicle components.