1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE Complaints

THE RACK AND PINION STEERING IN MY 1998 OLDS INTRIGUE IS MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE. THE DEALER I TOOK IT TO SAYS IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE LEARNED OF NUMEROUS RACK AND PINION FAILURES ON THIS MODEL AND OTHER GM MODELS. WITH SO VERY MANY FAILURES, WHY MUST I WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO STEERING FAILURE? THE MOST RECENT RECALL EXTENDS ONLY TO BUILD DATE BEFORE 10-97. OURS WAS BUILT 1-98, BUT WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS EARLIER BUILDS. IT IS APPARENT TO ME THIS IS A TOTAL DESIGN FLAW, NOT JUST A BEARING RELATED DEFECT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. INABILITY TO STEER RESULTS IN EXTREMELY TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES. THE LATEST RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE ALL INTRIGUES, AS THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE DESIGN OF THIS RACK AND PINION ON THIS CAR. WITH SAFETY AT ISSUE, HELP US. THE CAR MAKERS ARE CONCERNED WITH PROFIT ISSUES, WE LOOK TO YOU TO INSURE SAFETY IS PART OF THE PRODUCT.*AK

1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE HAS INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. *MR THE PROBLEM WAS MOST EVIDENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS GOING IN SLOW SPEED AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK OR WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. (ALSO WHEN TURNING) THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT APART OF RECALL # 03V527000. *SC

WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE REGISTERED HOT. A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE DRIVEN IN FOR ANALYSIS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT SWERVED BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE HIGH WAY. VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WHERE IT STALLED. AFTER A FEW SECONDS VEHICLE WAS STARTED AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. *AK THE VEHICLE SPUN IN A 180 DEGREE ANGLE AND HAD COME TO A STOP FACING TRAFFIC THAT FOLLOWED. *SC

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED STEERING DIFFICULT WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND CALLED AAA WHO THEN TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. WHILE WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE DEALER THE CONSUMER LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A RECALL. THE DEALER LATER INFORMED THEM THAT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND TOLD HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED SINCE IT WAS OWNED ONLY A SHORT TIME, AND HIS CLAIM WAS DENIED. GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE ALSO FOUND. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *NM

RECALL 03 V 527 000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR BEARING. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A MOMENTARY STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP WHILE TURNING, MORE SO WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

CRITICAL STEERING DEFECT ON 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE. *MR THE STEERING GEAR MADE IT HARD TO MAKE LEFT HAND TURNS . THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FAILED SPOOL VALVE. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RACK AND PINION RECALL. *JB

WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED INADVERTENTLY. ALSO, WHILE ACCELERATING THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. REPORTED. NO INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. *AK

BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAKE LEFT TURNS, PARTICULARLY AT LOW SPEEDS. BROUGHT CAR TO LOCAL GARAGE, THEY THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS RACK & PINION UNIT. BROUGHT CAR TO GM DEALER (HOVE BUICK) WHO CONFIRMED THIS WAS THE RACK & PINION UNIT THAT WAS BEING RECALLED, BUT MY VIN WAS NOT YET COVERED. HOD TO HAVE RACK & PINION UNIT REPLACED (BY LOCAL GARAGE). CONTACTED GM/OLDSMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY CONFIRMED THERE WAS A RECALL BUT MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AS CARS THAT ARE COVERED. *AK

RECALL NO.#03V527000, STEERING GEAR BEARINGS: THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER BUT THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T FALL UNDER THE RECALL PERIMETER. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THAT THE RECALL LETTER WAS SENT BY MISTAKE. *JB THE STEERING GEAR BEARING/RACK AND PINION WAS BAD. IN RE: RECALL #03V527000. *SC *JB