Certain vehicles may experience a sudden loss of electric power steering assist due to a poor electrical connection within the torque-sensor harness connector. Steering control can be maintained, as the vehicle will revert to a manual steering mode, but will require greater driver effort. The sudden change in steering may increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will replace steering gear pinion sensor cover assembly.
On certain vehicles, the power steering hose retention clamp may have been incorrectly positioned during assembly. This could result in a detachment of the low pressure return hose, resulting in a large volume leak of power steering fluid, which would require greater driver effort to steer the vehicle. In some circumstances, the leaking fluid in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the return power steering hose for proper placement of the hose clamp, and reposition the hose clamp as needed.
On certain vehicles, an error in the electric power steering control unit software could result in the deactivation of the electric power steering assist. This would unexpectedly increase the steering effort force necessary to steer the vehicle at lower vehicle speeds, which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
On certain vehicles manufactured with a 2-piece steering shaft, the bolt torque on the joint that couples the upper and lower steering shaft could be lower than specification. This could cause the bolt to loosen, which may result in separation of the two shafts. Separation of the two shafts would result in complete loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Instructions will be sent to owners advising them to tighten the bolt as an interim measure. Dealers will inspect the steering shaft, and affect repairs as necessary.
On certain vehicles, insufficient adhesive may have been applied to the steering gear pinion plug at time of assembly. This could allow the plug to loosen and potentially separate from the steering gear assembly, causing a loss of steering which could result in a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will install a new pinion plug with properly applied adhesive.
On certain vehicles, a defect in the the ball joint seals on the drag link could allow corrosion to form in the joint, leading to accelerated wear. This could result in ball joint failure, potentially resulting in a loss of steering control which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the drag link on affected vehicles. Those found to be loose will be replaced immediately. Drag links found to be still serviceable will be replaced when sufficient replacement parts become available.
On certain vehicles, a defect in the power steering pump could cause it to seize after a long period of vehicle non-operation (such as overnight parking) during cold ambient temperatures. This would unexpectedly increase the steering effort force necessary to steer the vehicle at lower vehicle speeds, which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the power steering pump with an improved part.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014 Ram 2500 trucks and 2013-2014 Ram 3500 trucks and cab chassis manufactured October 9, 2012, to July 29, 2014. The affected vehicles may have inadequate welds securing the front track bar frame brackets, which may result in the bracket components separating from the frame.
Safety Risk
If the bracket components separate from the frame, the vehicle may be more difficult to steer and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and install a reinforcement bracket over the front track bar bracket. This recall began on February 24, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R46.
On certain vehicles, The cut out in the trim panel may restrict the trailer hand brake handle from returning to the off position, causing the trailer service brakes to drag. This could cause the wheel end to overheat, potentially catch fire and/or cause a tire blowout, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the trim panel if necessary.
On certain vehicles, during cold ambient temperatures, the electric power steering assist system may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault. This would unexpectedly increase the steering effort force necessary to steer the vehicle at lower vehicle speeds, which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will update the power steering control module software.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured November 8, 2013, to March 12, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the inner tie rod may not be tightened to specification allowing the tie rod to separate from the steering gear.
Safety Risk
Separation of the tie rod from the steering gear could result in the loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15386.
On certain vehicles, a fault in the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system could result in an immediate loss of power steering assist without warning to the driver. This would unexpectedly increase the steering effort force necessary to steer the vehicle at lower vehicle speeds, which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will affect repairs as necessary and will reprogram the EPS controller with updated software. In the event that an EPS fault occurs, this updated software would allow for continued EPS function while displaying visual and audible warnings to the driver until the end of the drive cycle.
On certain vehicles, the intermediate shaft may have been improperly riveted during manufacturing. An improperly riveted intermediate shaft could separate from the intermediate shaft flex coupling, which could result in a loss of steering control without warning, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the intermediate shaft, and replace if required.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford F-150 trucks manufactured March 19, 2015, to March 30, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been built with a steering upper intermediate shaft that was improperly riveted.
Safety Risk
If the intermediate shaft was improperly riveted, it could separate from the intermediate shaft flex coupling, resulting in a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the intermediate shaft and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 22, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S17.
On certain vehicles registered and operated in areas where road salt is used on the roadways during winter months for extended time periods (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland-Labrador), corrosion may occur at the steering gear motor attachment bolts. Steering gear motor detachment from the gear housing could result in sudden loss of steering power assist. This would cause the Electronic Stability Control and Traction Control malfunction indicator lamps to illuminate. A vehicle experiencing a loss of steering power assist would revert to a manual steering mode which would require greater driver effort, especially at low vehicle speeds. A loss of steering power assist could ultimately result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will apply sealer and replace the steering gear motor attachment bolts as required. If one or more of the steering gear motor attachment bolds are broken or missing, a new steering gear will be installed in the vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Smart Fortwo Coupes and Convertibles, and 2014 Fortwo Coupe Electric and Fortwo Convertible Electric vehicles. The affected vehicles have steering gear mounting bolts which may break during vehicle operation.
Safety Risk
If the steering gear mounting bolts break, vehicle handling could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began on May 8, 2015. Owners may contact Smart customer service at 1-800-762-7887.
On certain vehicles, bolts which connect the steering gear to the front cross member may break, which could affect vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash resulting in injury and/or damage to property.
On certain vehicles, the steering column assembly housing may come into contact with the power steering printed circuit board. This contact could eventually cause enough wear on the power steering printed circuit board to cause a sudden loss of power steering assist. If the power steering assist is lost, a malfunction indicator light is displayed on the instrument panel to inform the driver. Steering control can be maintained, as the vehicle will revert to a manual steering mode, but will require greater driver effort particularly at low vehicle speeds. The sudden change in steering effort may increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the steering column assembly.
On certain vehicles, the circuit board for the electric power steering electronic control unit may be damaged. A damaged circuit board could result in sudden loss of steering power assist and would trigger a warning lamp to illuminate. A vehicle experiencing a loss of steering power assist would revert to a manual steering mode which would require greater driver effort, especially at low vehicle speeds. A loss of steering power assist could ultimately result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will replace inspect the electric power steering electronic control unit and, if affected, replace the electronic control unit with a new one.
Certain vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS) may experience a sudden loss of power steering assist that could occur at any time while driving. If the electronic control unit (ECU) were to sense a discrepancy in the torque sensing circuitry of the steering system, and indicator lamp would illuminate in the instrument cluster to inform the driver that steering assist is no longer provided. Steering control could be maintained, as the vehicle will revert to a manual steering mode, but would require greater driver effort. The sudden change in steering may increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will update the electric power steering (EPS) control unit.
