The contact states when the vehicle was taken to dealer for repairs of the power steering rack the welds where the power steering rack bolted to the frame cracked. The vehicle has been repaired at the contacted expense.

- Sherwood, AR, USA

I was turning the steering wheel to the left to parallel park next to the curb, then I heard a loud pop noise. When I went to turn the steering wheel to the right it began very hard to turn the wheel. After leaving the store and from that point on every attempt I made to make a right turn, it was extremely difficult. After arriving home I noticed leaking coming from under my van. I called the location Pontiac dealership about the my steering problem and they indicated that the van had been serviced for a recall in February of 2003 for the rack and pinion recall something related to the steering. So I checked the internet for the recall and it mentioned the same exactly problems that I was having now. I called the dealership back and they said that the recall was already done once. I told them it is doing the same exactly thing, and when I went to check the steering one more time I noticed a huge puddle under my van of reddish brown fluid. Come to find out it was transmission leaking and when I turn the engine on the fluid came pouring out like a faucet. I contacted a transmission shop to take a look at my van and the mechanic told me that the axle was pulled out of the transmission by the steering system. The mechanic also mentioned that he has done quite a few of these same exactly kind of mini-van with the same exactly problem. He said that he knew exactly how the fix this problem because he does it quite often. The repair costed $1,800 dollars and the mechanic told me now I need to take back to the dealer to have them repair that rack and pinion again. Now this has me very upset, I'm so mad about this because this definitely sounds like a manufacture problem and I should not have to pay for this. I sent the van to karco tranmissions in lancaster, California where I live and the phone number is 661-723-1164. This does not make any sense to me, so this is why I am filing this complaint.

- Lancaster, CA, USA

Todays date- Dec 15th, 2004.have had 1997 Pontiac Transport for almost 1 yr. I just found out today that the rack and pinion are going to have to be replaced, along with the thermostat and water pump. Regarding operation of the rack & pinion, the trouble started about a month ago. I first noticed problems w/the steering while backing out. I thought it might have been power steering, checked the fluid and it was full. Not terrible problems, but little enough to notice something was not right. It has now gotten a little worse, so I had it looked at and was told the terrible news just this very day.

- Antioch, IL, USA

Since having the rack/pinion steering replaced twice (once before the recall and once after), I have again noticed difficulty pulling out of parking spaces turning left or right (hard to turn the wheel/loss of power steering?), especially, in cold weather. As you straighten wheel and start driving, problem seems to resolve itself. Went to dealer who thought it could not possibly be the rack so therefore replaced the power steering pump in early November. The failure happened again today.

- Fairport, NY, USA

The consumer was informed that no parts were available regarding the recall on the rack and pinion.

- Saddle River, NJ, USA

NHTSA 02-V-286000 consumer received a recall notice regarding the rack and pinion, however the dealer stated the tools to correct the problem were broke.

- Libertyville, IL, USA

No parts were available regarding the recall for the steering rack and pinion.

- Wood Lake, MN, USA

Steering locks up while trying to turn vehicle to the left. Power steering seems to push vehicle to the right. Occurs at any speed.

- Rantoul, IL, USA

While driving at 40mph steering momentarily locked up. Vehicle then locked up making left hand turn. Had to pull steering wheel a few degrees to the right to free up bind. Took vehicle to Pontiac dealership, and was told that rack and pinion had failed and needed to be replaced. Was also informed that the rack and pinion failure destroyed the air bag coil which had to be replaced.

- Henderson, NC, USA

Problem #1 - seat belts. Four out of the seven seat belts in the car have failed. Specifically the retraction system. Four out of seven going bad to me, means this is not an isolated failure. I'm concern about the other 3 working if in an accident. Dealers contacted want to charge me $800 - $1000 to fix four seat belts. Need to get it fixed, but nothing to believe I won't be asking that same dealer to fix the other 3 seat belts when they go bad too. Dealers say high cost of repair is directly attributed to the cost of parts. Unlike an alternator, or other engine component, the seat belt assembly is sole sourced from one manufacturer. Locked in to a non-competitive price (and obviously over inflated). Problem #2 - rack and pinon steering. I noticed on your web site what I believe to be the same problem under Pontiac Transport. Basically told by dealer the rack and pinon steering system is bad. Out of warranty, so big bucks. Have had to pay quite a bit in dealer repair bills already on vehical. For example, problems with automatic sliding door, windshield wipers, back hatch, side window, push buttons on door arm rest, air conditioning.....also poor design with plastic parts in high stressed point areas.

- Show Low, AZ, USA

The steering completely locked up without warning. Fortunately I was just pulling out of a parking place in a shopping center, so there was no other accident or activity envolved. I payed to have the rack & pinion unit replaced and have had no further problem. I read the other day that your organization was conducting an engineering investigation on steering lockup problems for certain GMC models. Among these models listed was my 97 Pontiac Transport so I thought I would report my experience.

- Summerfield, NC, USA

A pin fell off from rack and pinion steering while traveling at 25 mph. Consumer could not maintain control of vehicle.

- Ayer, MA, USA

Rack and pinion steering broke while backing out, vehicle started to hesitate, and then all power steering fluid ran out. Contacted dealer, and dealer stated that consumer needed to replace rack and pinion. Please add VIN.

- Salisbury, MD, USA

While driving 40 mph consumer tried to make a left hand turn and vehicle would not turn. Only able to go straight or make right hand turns. Dealer replaced rack and pinion.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

Steering wheel would lock up when making a left turn. Vehicle taken to dealer for inspection, and informed that rack and pinion steering was broken, and needed replacement. A nut had broken on the bottom of the rack and pinion system causing it to fall apart, the air bag coil was twisted also causing a bind up in the steering wheel.

- Ridgeville, IN, USA

Steering failed and locked up while vehicle was in motion due to failure of rack and pinion steering. Total failure of steering.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA