Some 2014-15 Cruzes and Volts recalled over steering issue


July 17, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

Staff report

DETROIT

General Motors has recalled 2014-2015 model-year Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured Nov. 8, 2013, to March 12, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

On April 28, according to the safety-recall report submitted to the NHTSA, GM received notification from steering supplier Robert Bosch Automotive Steering of Florence, Ky., that there was an issue with the inner tie-rod assembly machine. On May 1, GM opened a safety investigation into the 2014-2015 model-year Chevrolet Cruze and 2014 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. In its investigation, the supplier was able to identify how the defective steering gear had improperly passed through the assembly process. The supplier also was able to use torque and angle information stored as part of the production process to identify additional steering assemblies that may have been subject to the same error and therefore potentially contain the same defect. Those assemblies then were tracked by GM back to the individual vehicles produced by GM through vehicle identification numbers, according to the safety-recall report submitted to the NHTSA.

The Cruze is built at the GM Lordstown Assembly Plant, and the Volt is built at the GM Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant.

In the affected vehicles, the inner tie rod may not be tightened to specification, allowing the tie rod to separate from the steering gear.

“I think by General Motors taking the time to investigate it and not let it prolong, it shows that General Motors is committed to making our customers safe,” said Robert Morales, president of United Auto Workers Local 1714.

Separation of the tie rod from the steering gear could result in the loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering-gear assembly free of charge. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 800-222-1020. GM’s number for this recall is 15386.