THE AXLE HOUSINGS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A TIGHT FRICTION WELD CURL RADIUS ON THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF THE AXLE HOUSING. UNDER OPERATIONAL LOADS, CRACKS CAN INITIATE AT THE WELD CURL RADIUS ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSING. THESE CRACKS MAY PROPAGATE, EVENTUALLY ALLOWING THE AXLE SPINDLE TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE HOUSING.
Safety risk
SEPARATION OF THE AXLE SPINDLE FROM THE AXLE HOUSING CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR AXLE HOUSING WITH A NEW HOUSING.
THE SAGINAW GEAR DOES NOT RELIEVE PRESSURE WHEN THE WHEELS HAVE BEEN TURNED FULLY AGAINST THE AXLE STOPS. THE RESULTING CONTINUED PRESSURE ON THE STEERING SYSTEM CAN RESULT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRACKS IN THE SPLINES OF THE PITMAN SHAFT, WHICH CAN DEVELOP INTO A COMPLETE FRACTURE OF THE PITMAN SHAFT.
Safety risk
FRACTURE OF THE PITMAN SHAFT CAUSES COMPLETE LOSS OFSTEERING CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT IF FRACTURE OCCURSWHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
Manufacturer remedy
REPLACE THE EXISTING PITMAN SHAFT IN THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW, STRENGTHENED PITMAN SHAFT.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
No complaints recorded for this model year.
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.