The problem
Vehicle description: extended cab 4-wheel drive pickup trucks. Some of these vehicles have a lower than specified torque on all three of the steering gear to frame attachment bolts. The bolts can loosen over time allowing the steering gear to move. This loosening can result in some unresponsive steering feel and some noise to the driver.
The risk
If this condition is ignored, the steering gear to frame can wear and/or fatigue the attaching bolts to the point of breakage or the bolts backing out. If all the bolts break or back out, the steering gear would separate from the frame resulting in a loss of steering control.
The fix
Dealers will retorque the steering gear to frame bolts to proper specifications.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 98V-242 (98V242000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | General Motors, LLC |
| Component | Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion) |
| Report date | October 6, 1998 |
| Owners notified | October 6, 1998 |
| Vehicles affected | 8,367 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the steering
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 98V-242 repair free?
Yes. Chevrolet dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will retorque the steering gear to frame bolts to proper specifications.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 8,367 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.