GM has another power steering fluid leak on its hands, this time on the Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS, affecting 2010-2011 model years for both vehicles. There are over 16,000 affected vehicles, all with V8 engines, and the issue can lead to loss of power steering or worse. Click past the jump for more details and the NHTSA’s press release.
On the affected vehicles, the “starter or alternator cable” can come into contact with a power steering fluid return line. Over time, this could wear through the return line, leading to a loss of power steering fluid, which of course means a loss of power steering. Beyond that, it could mean an engine fire similar to the one on the 2010 Cadillac SRX, which prompted a power steering leak recall earlier this year as well.
Perhaps some of GM’s engineers should take a more careful look at how things are routed underneath the hood of their cars.
Meanwhile, GM is sending out notices to affected owners and will be inspecting and then replacing or rerouting the lines as necessary.
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 DTS AND BUICK LUCERNE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES. THE STARTER OR ALTERNATOR CABLE IS IN CONTACT WITH THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE. IF EITHER THE STARTER OR ALTERNATOR CABLE IS CONTACTING THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE, THE CABLE COULD WEAR THROUGH THE LINE, CAUSING A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.by John Suit
Source: NHTSA