Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
The most-reported problem — Steering:rack And Pinion (10% of complaints) — is covered by 2 NHTSA recall campaigns.
Steering:rack And Pinion complaints here are 2.9× the median for that category across the 1655 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering:rack And Pinion | 19 · 10% | Recalled | Recall 08E063000 · Recall 02V286000 |
| Air Bags:frontal | 18 · 9.5% | Recalled | Recall 98V146000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 17 · 8.9% | not available | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 14 · 7.4% | not available | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline | 12 · 6.3% | not available | — |
| Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer | 10 · 5.3% | not available | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Percentages are the share of the 190 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
NHTSA campaign 08E063000 · 2008 · reported 10/17/2008
IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 02V070000 · 2002 · reported 03/06/2002
IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 07E015000 · 2007 · reported 02/26/2007
A STALLED VEHICLE CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. A FUEL LEAK CAN RESULT IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 02V286000 · 2002 · reported 11/04/2002
IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 97V106000 · 1997 · reported 06/28/1997
A RAPID LOSS OF AIR CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 98V319000 · 1998 · reported 12/15/1998
IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL CAN OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 98V032000 · 1998 · reported 02/25/1998
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SHEET METAL STRUCTURE WOULD NOT PERFORM AS DESIRED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 98V146000 · 1998 · reported 06/29/1998
AIR BAGS DEPLOY WITH GREAT FORCE AND CAN SERIOUSLY INJURE UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANTS WHO ARE TOO CLOSE TO THEM. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
“LOST CONTROL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO A FAULTY RACK AND PINION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON 02/01/03. PLEASE PROVIDE…”NHTSA complaint 10006262 — filed 02/03/2003 · STEERING:RACK AND PINION
“1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE ALL OF A SUDDEN, WOULD NOT TURN LEFT AND I HIT A POLE, COME TO FIND OUT THE RACK AND PINION SUDDENLY…”NHTSA complaint 10000815 — filed 01/08/2003 · STEERING:RACK AND PINION
“AT LOW SPEEDS 5-25 MPH STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKS UP WHEN TURNING LEFT #EA02-003.”NHTSA complaint 766421 — filed 08/29/2002 · STEERING:RACK AND PINION
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Steering:rack and pinion issues are the most-reported category, cited in 19 of 190 NHTSA complaints (10%), followed by air bags:frontal (18), engine and engine cooling:engine (17), service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (14). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
190 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 29 involved a crash, 8 involved a fire, and 19 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Yes — 9 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 08E063000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
