THE STEERING GEARS HAVE AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED SNAP RING GROOVE. THIS CAN CAUSE A FRACTURE OF THE SNAP RING WITH SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE TO THE RECIRCULATING BALL GUIDE TUBE. ALSO, THE O-RING SEAL IN VEHICLES BUILT AFTER FEBRUARY 1988 DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND IS INADEQUATE, CAUSING INTERIOR LEAKAGE AROUND THE O-RING / GLIDE RING SEAL IN THE STEERING GEAR.
Safety risk
THE FRACTURE OF THE SNAP RING RESULTS IN INCREASING DETERIORATION OF THE ABILITY TO TURN THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT. THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORTS OR A "CRUNCHY" FEELING AT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE INADEQUATE O-RING SEAL CAUSES MOMENTARY REDUCTIONS IN POWER STEERING ASSIST AT LOW SPEED AND CERTAIN LEFT TURN MANEUVERS. BOTH CONDITIONS RESULT IN DECREASED STEERING ABILITY.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REBUILD THE STEERING GEAR. IF A BROKEN SNAP RING IS FOUND DURING REBUILDING, THE STEERING GEAR WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REMANUFACTURED UNIT.
SYSTEM: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; BATTERY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MEDIUM DUTY SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKES, TILT HOODS, 5.9L, 6.6L OR 7.6L DIESEL ENGINES OR 6.1L OR 7.0L GASOLINE ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA ,RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND WISCONSIN. THE BATTERY POWER JUNCTION BLOCK MOUNTED ON THE RIGHT FENDER APRON, WHICH SERVES AS AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION POINT FOR SEVERAL ENGINE COMPARTMENT SYSTEMS, IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO ROAD SPLASH. THE TERMINALS AT THE JUNCTION BLOCK CAN EXPERIENCE CORROSION AND CAN FRACTURE, CAUSING LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENGINE SHUTDOWN.
Safety risk
ENGINE SHUTDOWN, LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, OR LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOST CAN OCCUR WHICH MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE JUNCTION BOX, MAIN POWER TERMINAL THE STARTER OR STARTER RELAY AND TERMINALS AT THE EXISTING JUNCTION BLOCK. THE WIRING OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE CIRCUIT WILL ALSO BE MODIFIED BY BYPASSING THE JUNCTION BLOCK. THE NEW TERMINALS WILL BE MADE FROM AN ALLOY MATERIAL MORE RESISTANT TO SALT CORROSION.
AS A RESULT OF INHERENT VIBRATION IN THESE ENGINES, THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRINGS CAN FRACTURE.
Safety risk
IF ONE OF THE TWO RETURN SPRINGS FRACTURES WHILE THEVEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN ACCELERATOR PEDAL EFFORTWOULD BE FELT. IF THE SECOND SPRING ALSO FRACTURES, THE THROTTLE WOULD NOTRETURN TO IDLE POSITION AND CAN RESULT IN INCREASED ENGINE SPEED AND THEPOSSIBILITY OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
THE THROTTLE RETURN CONTROL SYSTEM WITH THE COIL TORSION SPRING DESIGN WILL BE REPLACED.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Steering: rack and pinion
2
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The 1991 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.