NHTSA — Steering: Rack And Pinion: Rack Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
30,796 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Pontiac Grand Prix steering problems

steering problem

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1997 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner Comments

problem #13

Jan 032005

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

A clanking noise was coming from the front of the vehicle. Steering wheel would be hard to turn. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer, and mechanic determined that the steering wheel needed to be replaced due to the rack and pinion solenoid switch.

- Waikoloa, HI, USA

problem #12

Jul 182003

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,000 miles
My 97 pont Grand Prix was recalled in Jan 2003 for the rack and pinion sterring, it was repaired. In July I lost controll of the car because of the steerring, no injuries.I had to get it fix at the local garage.when I made the complaint to Pontiac they told me so sorry but they would not honor any repairs on thier poor fix.

- Monroe Twp, NJ, USA

problem #11

Jan 282004

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,356 miles
I have a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix. Recently I lost my power steering while making any left turn. I took it to a dealership and they ran my VIN # and said I have a recall on my steering rack and it would be fixed at no cost to me. They replaced a bearing in the rack and said that was all they can do for free. So I took the car home and two days later my steering rack is leaking like crazy and my power steering goes out all the time. It is worse now then it was before I brought it into the dealership. I called the dealership and they said they fixed what the recall said, when all they did was replace a bearing that made my steering rack leak and has screwed up my powersteering. What should I do" I have heard that many Pontiac Grand Prix's have had their power steering rack replaced for free under this same recall. Please let me know what I should do?" dealership name is hargrave-mceleney that is in Iowa city Iowa their # is [xxx]. thanks, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Bettendorf, IA, USA

problem #10

Aug 082003

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I had to have my rack&pinon replaced on by 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix

- Oakton, VA, USA

problem #9

Jan 122004

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles
I had the power steering recall done on my 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix gtp when the recall first came out. Prior to the recall I had zero problems with my power steering. After the recall, not even days later, my power steering rack now leaks and is "jerky" when turning. The dealer will not cooperate in fixing it and thinks the recall has nothing to do with my new problems right after the recall work.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA

problem #8

Aug 021999

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,995 miles
The rack and pinion in my 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix is not allowing me to turn left with the assistance of power steering. There was a recall on a lower pinion bearing, which I had replaced. The problem still exists after all of the recall repairs were finished. I believe that when the lower pinion bearing went out it caused more damage to the steering rack.

- Reese, MI, USA

problem #7

Dec 262002

Grand Prix 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am driving my father-in-law's Grand Prix (he is in a nursing home). The power steering on my 97 Grand Prix gtp failed completely. Had the car not been on a side street (as opposed to an expressway), it could have caused a serious accident. I've contacted several pontiace dealers and GM/Pontiac and was told they no nothing of a recall and that I should pay to have it fixed and they might reimburse me if they find out about a recall and if it meets their specs. Even after I gave them the NHTSA campaign id they still said they had no knowledge of this. How could they not"?" I heard about it months ago on the news.

- Sterling Hts., MI, USA

problem #6

Sep 092002

(reported on)

Grand Prix

  • miles
Steering rack has yet to actually go out. While driving I have been noticing very slight lockups while turning left.

- St Paul, MN, USA

problem #5

Apr 142002

Grand Prix

  • miles
As with many other 1997 Pontiac grand pirx's, the power steering rack has failed. Luckily, I noticed mine while changing tires, and not while driving down the road, possibly causing an accident, and injuring people.

- Burlington, VT, USA

problem #4

Jan 282002

Grand Prix

  • miles
While making a left hand turn the steering rack failed causing my car to crash. GM unwilling to discuss issue.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

problem #3

Feb 212001

Grand Prix

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While his wife was driving vehicle at approximately 15 mph, there was a noise, sounded as if vehicle went over a pothole in the road. She went to make a turn, and steering wheel locked up and would not turn. Dealership informed consumer that a cap fell off in steering tube, allowing ball bearings to fall out, resulting in loss of steering control. Consumer stated that he had more steering ability while in reverse, dealer replaced power steering rack.

- Ronks, PA, USA

problem #2

Mar 242000

Grand Prix

  • miles
Due to faulty steering rack, the system provided no power assistance during left turns, this condition was most noticeable at slow speeds and when making left turns at stop lights in traffic where steering performance is very important. Nlm

- Plainfield, NJ, USA

problem #1

Feb 282000

Grand Prix

  • miles
Failure resulted in no power assist while turning left, but normal power assist while turning right. Dealer could not identify precise failure within system. Repair made by replacement of entire steering rack. Repair cost was $1,033. Manufacturer and dealer unwilling to discuss warranty consideration, citing fact that vehicle was 2 months and 8,000 miles beyond standard warranty period.

- Plainfield, NJ, USA

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