- General Motors is recalling 2,100 2011 Chevrolet Cruze sedans because the steering wheel can detach from the steering column, according to NHTSA.
- GM issued a stop-sale order on the sedans, but says the problem is "an isolated incident."
- There was no crash and no one was injured in the one incident that GM reported to the federal government.
WASHINGTON — General Motors is recalling 2,100 2011 Chevrolet Cruze sedans because the steering wheel can detach from the steering column, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
"During manufacturing, the steering wheel could have been improperly fastened and may detach from the steering column," said NHTSA in its recalls summary of the problem. "Should the steering wheel detach from the steering column while driving, the driver could lose the ability to steer the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash."
GM issued a stop-sale order on the sedans, but says the problem is "an isolated incident."
"The daughter of a Cruze owner driving on March 14 experienced the separation of the steering wheel from the column," said GM in other documentation filed with the federal government. "She was able to guide the vehicle to the side of the road. There was no crash and no one was injured."
GM told NHTSA that "the owner (of the aforementioned Cruze) has said she is willing to accept another General Motors vehicle in place of this vehicle. We are pleased she is staying in the GM family."
GM said it has made changes to the assembly process so that "the tool used to fasten the steering wheel cannot operate if an incorrect part number is read by the tool's scanner."
"We inspected more than 2,100 vehicles at the assembly plant and found no issues," GM said. "Additionally, in order to confirm our findings, we asked GM dealers to immediately inspect vehicles in their possession and inform GM engineering of the results. To date, GM has inspected more than 650 vehicles at dealerships with no issues."
Chevrolet dealers will inspect to verify that the steering wheel is assembled properly. The recall has begun. Owners can contact Chevrolet at (800) 630-2438.
Inside Line says: If you own the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, have it checked out ASAP with your dealer. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
limitool says:
09:57 AM, 04/13/2011
Not only GM but many, many auto makers have a similar problem. I worked for GM for almost 31 as an assembler. This steering wheel occurrence is one of many that consumers' deal with. I tried to correct fastener related issues the last 6 years of my employment with GM. The world would be aghast at what has entered into the "consumer world". Anyone interested please see a article I wrote for ASSEMBLY MAGAZINE in Nov. of 2010 entitled "Error Proof Fastening at GM". GM took us (a partner) directly from assembly production into engineering and mandated our corrections throughout North America to correct this "steering wheel" problem along with MANY other critical assembly operations. This includes electrical grounds also which control many critical elements on a vehicle. The fox is guarding the henhouse.
wikiwiki says:
06:27 AM, 04/12/2011
Chevy runs deep.
scottyscooter says:
04:24 AM, 04/12/2011
"GM said it has made changes to the assembly process so that "the tool used to fasten the steering wheel cannot operate if an incorrect part number is read by the tool's scanner."
It's kind of annoying that they have create smart tools rather than simply having smart humans.
johnnb says:
02:16 AM, 04/12/2011
Video of that car with the steering wheel hanging
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=62d_1302551330
angry_mushroom says:
12:22 AM, 04/12/2011
It's not a flaw... It's a feature. In order to cater to the sporting market, most Cruzes come with a detachable steering wheel. Kinda like F1...
ttw1 says:
09:31 PM, 04/11/2011
Nice command of the English language there, dgmail.
gmshouldadied says:
07:47 PM, 04/11/2011
One could argue if you're such a moron to spend your money on a Daewoo Cruze, you kinda deserve what you get...
I don't envy NHTSA though -- it really is tough to determine who to blame here. Is it that fine cut-rate Korean engineering, or the sloped-forehead UAW Neanderthals tasked with assembling this garbage?
But hey, I hear that interior is REALLY nice. Does it matter that the radio volume knob doesn't fall off in your hand, if the STEERING WHEEL can?
akula1 says:
05:48 PM, 04/11/2011
Hmmm, misapplied or trapped pedals due to driver incompetence. Or steering wheels that pop off and engines that shut down. I guess we know who Recall Motors is. The more things change the more they stay the same.
openeyes1 says:
05:17 PM, 04/11/2011
@jays83gsl,
"One has begun producing high(er) quality automobiles, such as the Cherokee and the Charger."
Chrysler quality, you've got to be kidding! The current batch of big gas guzzlers that Chrysler produces still rate at the bottom of the barrel in national quality rankings. While Chevy has its share problems, and this current Cruze problem is a serious one (albeit a small recall), GM for the most part has made major progress on building better vehicles.
If you think GM has quality problems take a good look at Toyota. They just had an over million car recall, blaming American manufactuers for a defective electronic throttle's that Toyota designed, and for mats installed by the dealer. Toyota has only managed band-aid repairs to the electronic throttle systems in a coverup that would make Tokyo Electric proud.
kevm14 says:
05:03 PM, 04/11/2011
That sounds more like a UAW problem than an engineering problem, based on the limited info here.
It really is amazing what people do with information from such an isolated case.