The problem
The intermediate steering shaft loosens at the steering shaft to steering gear coupling. With this looseness, the yoke pinch bolt can wear on the splines of the shaft until there is no longer an interference between the splines and the bolt.
The risk
This condition can cause body to chassis movement allowing the steering shaft to separate from the steering gear which can result in a loss of steering control.
The fix
Dealers will retorque the upper and lower bolts to correct specifications.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 96V-195 (96V195000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | General Motors, LLC |
| Component | Steering › Gear box › Shaft sector |
| Report date | October 8, 1996 |
| Owners notified | October 8, 1996 |
| Vehicles affected | 144,598 |
| Initiated by | NHTSA investigation |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the steering
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 96V-195 repair free?
Yes. Chevrolet dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will retorque the upper and lower bolts to correct specifications.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 144,598 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.