# NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE01038
> **STEERING RACK AND PINION** · Opened 2001-11-14 · Closed 2002-04-04
## Investigation
- **Action number:** PE01038
- **Type:** Preliminary Evaluation
- **Open date:** 2001-11-14
- **Close date:** 2002-04-04
- **Manufacturer:** General Motors, LLC
- **Affected makes:** CHEVROLET; OLDSMOBILE; PONTIAC
- **Affected components:** STEERING
- **Affected model years:** 1997, 1998
- **Affected (make, year) variants:** 7
## Summary

ODI HAS RECEIVED 200 COMPLAINTS FROMT CONSUMERS AND 1,238 FROM GM ALLEGING FAILURE OR LOCKUP OF THE STEERING RACK AND PINION UNIT (R&P).THIS ALLEGED CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH CAN RESULT.GM HAS REPORTED SIX CRASHES IN WHICH EIGHT PEOPLE HAVE SUSTAINED INJURIES RANGING FROM BRUISES, AIRBAG BURN, SEAT BELT ABRASION, FACIAL INJURY, NECK AND BACK PAIN.ALL CRASHES WERE SINGLE VEHICLE CRASHES.GM STATES THAT ONE POSSIBLE FAILURE MODE IS FAILURE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING IN THE R&P.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN OPENED TO DETERMINE IF A SAFETY DEFECT TREND EXISTS.

## Source
- [NHTSA ODI investigation page](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchResults?searchType=ID&targetCategory=I&searchCriteria.nhtsa_ids=PE01038)
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