NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Recall Query RQ03-003: ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATION
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Recall Query RQ03-003 on January 8, 2003 and closed it on April 10, 2003. NHTSA's investigations file lists 3 models from 3 makes for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- RQ03-003 (also written RQ03003)
- Investigation type
- Recall Query An investigation into whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or whether its remedy works, run much like a Preliminary Evaluation.
- Status
- Closed April 10, 2003
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- General Motors, LLC
- Component
- Structure — Frame and Members
- Vehicles and equipment
- 3 models from 3 makes, including the Chevrolet Lumina APV and Oldsmobile Silhouette
A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Recall Query RQ03-003.
IN APRIL 1997, GM NOTIFIED ODI OF A REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLT DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1990-91 U VANS AND MY 1988-91 W CARS THAT COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR.GM IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS EXCESSIVE CREVICE CORROSION OF THE ENGINE CRADLE RETAINER AFTER YEARS OF EXPOSURE IN A SEVERE CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENT.THE RECALL COVERED APPROXIMATELY 680,000 VEHICLES REGISTERED IN 14 RUST BELT STATES; INCLUDING ALMOST 70,000 MY 1990-91 U VANS.THE RECALLED VEHICLES RECEIVED NEW REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS. GM CHANGED THE MATERIAL COMPOSITION OF THE RETAINERS IN THE MY 1992 U VANS TO PROVIDE IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANCE.THE MY 1992 RETAINERS ARE ALUMINIZED STEEL WITH A 2.5 MM PROTECTIVE COATING OF ZINC/CHROMATE ORGANIC.THERE HAVE BEEN ONLY FIVE (5) FAILURES IDENTIFIED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AFTER MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF EXPOSURE.BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE AND THE AGE OF THE VEHICLES, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF A SAFETY DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. THIS RECALL QUERY IS CLOSED.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Recall Query RQ03-003. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
Chevrolet
Chevrolet Lumina APV
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile Silhouette
Pontiac
Pontiac Trans Sport
What an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for RQ03-003
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.