Recall 08V616000 · manufacturer campaign 08389

What's wrong

GM IS RECALLING 2,149 MY 2009 SATURN VUE VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT RIGHT AND/OR LEFT FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE. AS A RESULT OF THE INCORRECT KNUCKLE AND RESULTING INADEQUATE CLEARANCE, THE TIE ROD BALL STUD COULD PULL OUT OF, OR FRACTURE, THE TIE ROD HOUSING. THIS COULD CAUSE THE TIE ROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE.

The risk

ALTHOUGH STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE MAINTAINED AFTER A TIE ROD SEPARATION BY THE UNAFFECTED WHEEL ON SMOOTH ROADS OR DURING LIGHT BRAKING, WITH MORE SIGNIFICANT SUSPENSION OR BRAKING INPUTS, THE AFFECTED WHEEL COULD TURN OUT AND SKID. IF A VEHICLE BUILT WITH TWO INCORRECT STEERING KNUCKLES HAD BOTH TIE RODS SEPARATE AT THE SAME TIME, STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE LOST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

The fix

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING KNUCKLES AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLE(S) AND TIE ROD(S). THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 8, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

GM RECALL NO. 08389. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

Vehicles covered by this recall

Whether a particular car is affected and still unrepaired depends on its VIN — a model year being listed does not mean every car of that year is included. Check any VIN free on CarLogs, or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Is this car's recall fixed?

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer, for the life of the vehicle. A CarLogs report shows the recall status for a specific VIN as reported by the manufacturer — whether it's open or repaired, and whether the fix is available yet.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall database. Look up another campaign →