Defective aftermarket steering drag links many have been sold as service replacement parts for 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks. The drag link assemblies in question may fracture, which could result in a loss of vehicle control and a crash, causing property damage, personal injury or death. Also, in some cases, the steering damper attaching bracket may yield and shift on the linkage. This may restrict the ability to turn the vehicle in one direction. Chrysler will notify owners (other than those covered by recall 09-010 (H36)) of all 2003-2008 Dodge Ram heavy duty trucks since those vehicles could potentially have had the affected linkages installed during service. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer for inspection and repair if required.
On certain Ranger 4x2 pickup trucks, the front spindle may have been manufactured without proper heat treating. As a result the spindle may, over time, fatigue to fracture without warning, which could allow the front spindle and wheel to separate from the vehicle. A wheel separation may result in a loss of control which could lead to a crash, causing property damage, personal injury, or death.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will verify the front spindle manufacturing date and, if necessary, replace the spindle assembly.
On certain 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, the drag link inner tie rod attachment to the pitman arm ball stud may fracture. A loss of steering control could result in a vehicle crash causing property damage, personal injury or death. Also, in some cases, the steering damper attaching bracket may yield and shift on the linkage. This may restrict the ability to turn the vehicle in one direction.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the drag link inner tie rod assembly. The steering damper will also be inspected and, if required, the damper bracket and bolts will be replaced.
On certain vehicles, a driving pin located inside the power steering rack may have been manufactured incorrectly. Should the driving pin fail it would cause an unexpected loss of steering power assist, which may result in a vehicle crash.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly.
Certain vehicles may have been assembled with an incorrect right and/or left front steering knuckle. As a result, the tie rod ball stud could pull out of, or fracture the tie rod housing. This could allow the tie rod to separate from the knuckle, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash causing property damage, personal injury or death.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the steering knuckle(s) and tie rod(s).
On certain Passat, Passat CC and Passat wagon, an electromechanical steering control unit may have a malfunction due to a damaged capacitor. If this malfunction occurs, the driver's steering input will not be properly processed by the system and the vehicle may not respond as driver intends. This defect can only occur immediately after vehicle start-up when steering wheel is moved for the first time and at a speed of less than 8 Km/h (5mph). Driver attempts to overcome the system during this situation will cause: Vibrations in the steering wheel, steering system motor to turn off, the red steering system malfunction indicator light to illuminate, and audible warnings to chime. These four events will alert the driver of a malfunction. A malfunction of the steering system could result in a vehicle crash causing injury or death.
On certain vehicles, the hose clamp used to secure the power steering fluid cooling hose to the power steering cooler may not provide sufficient clamping force for this connection. The loss of power steering fluid may result in diminished power steering over time and may ultimately damage the power steering pump.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealer will replace the power steering cooler hose and clamp.
On certain vehicles, the nut securing the power steering line to the power steering pump may loosen which could create a power steering fluid leak. If fluid leaks onto hot exhaust components, it could result in an engine compartment fire.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and tighten the nut securing the power steering line, and check the fluid level.
On certain motorcycles, an incorrect clamping load may have been applied to the upper handle bar clamps. Under certain conditions the handle bars may slip in the clamps which could result in a lost of control and a crash, causing personal injuries or death.
On certain motorcycles, it is possible for the coating to separate from the inside face of the steering damper housing. If this happens, the coating could partially clog the oil bores within the damper. Should this occur, the steering damper could become stiff, making it difficult to steer, and therefore could result in a vehicle crash causing personal injuries or death.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the steering damper.
On certain vehicles, an improperly manufactured power steering return hose may suddenly rupture, causing a fluid leak. An unexpected loss of steering power assist may result in a vehicle crash.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the power steering return line assembly.
On certain vehicles, prolonged high under-hood temperatures may cause a power steering hose to deteriorate prematurely, causing the hose to crack and leak. Power steering fluid leakage onto a hot catalytic converter will generate smoke and possibly lead to an under-hood fire, which could result in property damage, personal injury, or death.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the power steering hose with an updated version.
On certain vehicles, the power steering hose may deteriorate prematurely, causing the hose to crack and leak. Power steering fluid leakage onto a hot catalytic converter, will generate smoke and possibly lead to an under-hood fire, causing property damage and/or personal injury or death.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will install an updated power steering hose.
On certain trucks, the bolts that attach the steering gear to the frame may not have been tightened to the specified torque. This could allow the bolts to loosen and fall-out, possibly causing a loss of steering control and a crash with injury or death.
On certain vehicles, the steering gear may have been manufactured incorrectly. A steering gear with this condition may produce the feeling of hitting a curb and a cracking or pinging sound when the steering wheel is turned. The steering wheel position may be off-centre and increased effort may be required when turning, which could result in a vehicle crash.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the steering gear.
On certain motorcycles, the clamping blocks and top fork bridge were not manufactured according to specifications. Consequently, the handlebars might not be held securely in position. As a result, the handlebars may move out of their correct position when the motorcycle is being maneuvered, or when it is being ridden. This could result in a loss of vehicle control and a crash with injury or death.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the top fork bridge and both clamping blocks.
On certain trucks, the locknut used to retain the steering shaft may not have had the lock feature. As a result, the nut could loosen, allowing the steering shaft to separate, causing a loss of steering control which could result in a vehicle crash with injury or death.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the steering shaft pinch bolt and locknut.
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE NUT USED TO RETAIN THE STEERING SHAFT MAY OR MAY NOT BE A LOCK NUT THAT HAS THE LOCKING FEATURE. A LOCK NUT IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESISTANCE TO ENSURE THAT THE NUT DOES NOT COME LOOSE.
Safety Risk
IF THE NUT WERE TO COME LOOSE, THE STEERING SHAFT COULD POTENTIALLY SEPARATE RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT PINCH BOLTS AND LOCKNUTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 24, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.
On certain vehicles, improper heat treatment of the front hub assemblies may allow the development of a circumferential crack on the roll formed end of the hub when vehicle loading is applied. This condition can result in axial movement of the wheel, causing front end noise and steering wheel shudder, and the potential for wheel detachment and/or loss of steering control resulting in a crash.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the front hub assemblies.
On certain vehicles equipped with an 8-cylinder engine, corrosion may occur in the inner steel portions of the Active Body Control's high pressure distribution hose due to extensive exposure to humidity. This may result in ABC hydraulic fluid leakage near the catalictic converter which could cause a fire.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will install a corrosion resistant ABC high-pressure distribution hose.
