Six problems related to steering rack and pinion have been reported for the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Dealership is refusing to comply with steering bearing recall 03v527000. The gear assembly is leaking, but the dealership is refusing to replace it under the recall.
After the new lower bearings were replaced the gear assembly failed. The dealership was refusing to replace the gear assembly as indicated in the steering gear bearing recall 03v527000.
Recall 03v527000 subject:steering gear bearings. Consumer contacted the dealer, who informed consumer that the machine installing the new parts broke, and recall repairs could not be done until the machine was fixed.
Steering feels strange wheel has a tug to it when making turns. . Left turns require more steering effort than right turns also steering wheel squeaks when turning in either direction. This has been going on even when the car was still under warranty. . Car has just 25,000 miles on it, afraid there is something wrong with the rack and pinion.
Suspension making a squeaking loud sueaking noise from left fron end. (lower control arms replaced. ** vehicle front end suspension continues to have problems). Steering problem generated noises from left front end which I mistook for suspension failure. (tape kit added to front stabilizer bar). Brakes noises during the act of braking. (calibers grabbing pad making a clacking sound-stop squeal added to back of pads ** brakes continue to make noises). Left and right hub cap assemply both failed-currently part on order for righ hub cap assembly). ** vehicle front suspension rough and unrealiable causing continues problems with vehicle.
We reported the problem as a loud pop when turning and striking a bump in the road. After three trips to the dealer and being told there was nothing wrong, they finally examined the rack and pinion and found a broken weld on the rack assembly. There is still some unusual noises in the front end but the dealor tells us everything is normal. At 8,000 miles the left front rotor was examined, and found to have deep scores in it while the right one was smooth. After three days in the shop, and there telling me this was normal wear they finally turned the rotors (not replacing them) this eleminated some noise and surging when stopping, but something is still not right. There is a ticking noise like when there is a rock in one of your tires, as well as unexplained poping when crossing rr tracks etc.