STEERING SHAFT SEPARATIONS

What NHTSA is examining

Odi opened this pe on november 13, 1995 based on an owner complaint concerning a september 1995 accident involving a 1995 1/2 ton gm pickup truck.the vehicle owner alleged the bolt used to join the 2-piece steering shaft was missing.the shafts then separated and steering control was lost. During the course of this investigation, odi has gathered information from staff at the following: auto collision insurance companies, third-party products liability industry, independent repair shops, involved vehicle operators, general motors corporation. According to gm, the steering column and shafts were changed for the 1995 c/k models at the start of the 1995 model year.the change was made to incorporate driver air bag systems for the c/k10/20 with gvwr of less than 8500 lbs.however the change was made for all c/ks. For the 1995 model year, the steering column shaft was connected to the upper intermediate shaft with a bolt through the column shaft and the universal joint coupling.no nut was required.this connection was made at the steering column assembly facility and the steering column is shipped to the vehicle assembly plant.this joint is located inside the vehicle cab.the upper intermediate shaft was connected to the lower intermediate shaft assembly is also connected to the steering gear at the vehicle assembly plant. The configuration of the upper intermediate shaft was changed at the start of the 1996 model year, with a small number of 1996 steering columns pulled ahead in the…

Vehicles under investigation