All Investigations » Investigation RQ97004

Defect Investigation of Steering Column Assembly

Subject:	Steering column assembly
Components covered:	Steering: steering wheel and handle bar Steering: steering wheel/handle bar Steering wheel and handle bar
Investigations Summary:	This investigation was opened on Mar. 20, 1997. It was closed on Sep. 18, 1998. Note: this investigation has resulted in a vehicle safety recall. On January 25, 1994 Chrysler conducted a safety recall to correct the steering shaft assembly in model year 1993 grand cherokee and grand wagoneer. The recall population was 115,000 vehicles. The defect was the molded plastic pin which connects the upper steering column shaft and the lower steering column shaft which may have been sheared/damaged prior to the installation of the steering assembly into the vehile. If this occurred, the upper steering shaft will separate from the lower steering shaft causing complete loss of the steering control of the vehicle. As a remedy, Chrysler installed a restraining sleeve to limit the amount of steering shaft movement available.
Vehicles Affected by this investigation:	1993 Jeep Cherokee 1994 Jeep Cherokee 1995 Jeep Cherokee 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee