General Motors has gone to recall 2,500 Chevy Cruze sedans because of an incident that involved the steering wheel detaching from the column on one of the vehicles, disabling steering capabilities. Luckily, nobody was killed from the flaw. Additionally, GM claims that they have yet to find another Cruze with such a flaw, but better safe than sorry.
Source: The Detroit News
Comments
That’s a bummer. Just what Chevy needs right now. How the heck can a steering wheel come off?
Yeah this sucks. Not sure how the wheel in the Cruze is mounted… And not about to explore by taking mine off.
I can already hear the Ford and Hyundai salespeople telling their customers something along the lines of, “Oh you’re cross-shopping the Cruze? You mean that heap of [insert demoralizing noun here] whose steering wheels fall off?”
Let’s hope Chevy and the Cruze can bounce back from this. The new Focus is coming on strong — especially with sedan AND hatch variants launching at the same time.
Alex
Founder, GM Authority and proud Cruze owner 🙂
I heard it was only one Cruze that this happened to… very suspicious to me. These days people do strange things to get attention. I have many doubts that this is an issue.
Yeah, seems suspicious. Not saying it’s not possible… just out of the ordinary.
The steering wheel is attached to the column by a single, fairly large bolt that has some pretty aggressive thread locker on it. Once installed, the thing is very difficult to remove (for reasons that are now quite obvious).
Even if this bolt was not fully seated, there is not enough clearance between the back of the driver airbag and the top of the bolt head to allow for a complete back-out of the bolt.
My guess? That bolt was never installed in the first place.
Great to know, thanks for the info PBmax!
So at this point, we’ve narrowed it down to being two possible items:
1. As PBmax pointed out, the bolt may have never been installed in the first place, or
2. As Bob pointed out, the incident is “fishy”
My question: why would GM issue a recall if they felt that this wasn’t an issue?
Alex, PBmax… GM and ALL auto builders rely on electronic error proofing to “error proof” the assembly process. They spent MILLIONS on collecting data but NEVER controlled where it came from. It is EASY to completely miss a critical fastener and the system will never know. Check out Nov. 2010 issue of Assembly Magazine – Error Proof Fastening @ GM just to get a start on how this is possible. Toyota’s “sudden acceleration” could be something as simple as a loose or missing ground during production. Nothing wrong with their system.
Not only GM but many, many auto makers have a similar problem. I worked for GM for almost 31 as an assembler. This steering wheel occurrence is one of many that consumers’ deal with. I tried to correct fastener related issues the last 6 years of my employment with GM. The world would be aghast at what has entered into the “consumer world”. Anyone interested please see a article I wrote for ASSEMBLY MAGAZINE in Nov. of 2010 entitled “Error Proof Fastening at GM”. GM took us (a partner) directly from assembly production into engineering and mandated our corrections throughout North America to correct this “steering wheel” problem along with MANY other critical assembly operations. This includes electrical grounds also which control many critical elements on a vehicle. The fox is guarding the henhouse.
Brad — thanks for the insights! I’ll be sure to check out the Nov 2010 issue! Can’t wait to learn more about this!
Alex
Founder, GM Authority
Alex… Great! But unless (and maybe you do) understand how moving assembly lines and their assigned electronic tools work the article will probally leave you with more questions than an actual understanding on how a critical fastening operation in todays world can be MISSED. Call anytime if your interested.
Thanks Brad. I’ll read it and see what happens. I did have Operations in college (more than once) — so I’m no expert but I’m familiar with the basics.
Can you email me your contact info? alex [at] gmauthority [dot] com
Alex… I did forward info to you but I believe I left the “subject” line blank. Sorry if you gotta dig. Will redo to you if requested. Have a good weekend.
Brad
Hey Brad. I got it.
Will read up on the way to the New York show. Thanks!
Is it strange that (001) a steering wheel “fell off” on April 1st?
I was at a GM dealer with my Eco on Friday having fog lamps installed and not one word was said about steering wheels.
Den… It may seem weird it being Aprit 1st but I assure you the steering wheel just didn’t “fall off”. And it most surely isn’t a JOKE. And GM will NOT bring it up at a dealership while your haveing lamps installed. They will NOT bring it up PERIOD unless the Cruze you own falls within sequence numbers agreed upon with NHTSA . And then you’ll be notified. Other than that no dealership will address it with you and/or bring it up. And it is easy for a vehicle to have a missing critical fastener if you understood electronic assembly procedures and/or repair procedures. I dealt with MANY, MANY missing fasteners and it is NOT unusual. Please see the Nov. 2010 ASSEMBLY MAGAZINE article entitled “Error Proof Fastening at GM”. This may give you some insight.