Vehicle recall 96V249000 · December 17, 1996
Pontiac Grand AM and Buick Skylark
The steering column lower pinch bolt was not properly tightened during assembly.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- The steering column lower pinch bolt was not properly tightened during assembly.
- Consequence
- An undertorqued pinch bolt can rattle and cause looseness in the steering system. If the pinch bolt backed out of the joint completely, rotation of the steering shaft against the connector could cause increasing looseness in the steering system and result in loss of steering and an accident.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the steering column pinch bolt for correct torque and, if necessary, tighten the bolt to the specified torque.
- Notes
- Owner notification:owner notification will begin during January 1997. Note:owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Buick at 1-800-521-7300 or Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.ALSO contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 96V249000
- Reported to NHTSA
- December 17, 1996
- Filed by
- GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Owner notification
- January 6, 1997
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 424
- Initiated by
- the manufacturer
- Components
- Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Buick Skylark (1996): 1996
- Pontiac Grand AM (1996): 1996
Has your Buick been repaired?
Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.
NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Buick dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.