Everybody “knows” that you shouldn’t buy a first model year vehicle because the factory is still working out the bugs, but how long should you wait before they’re all worked out? Yes, we know that’s just an old tale at this point, but is five years enough? Ten? Is 30 years enough to ensure you’re assembling a car properly? This recall from Chevrolet and GMC hints that maybe it isn’t.
Steering Gear Could Have A Loose Nut
2026 Chevrolet Express InteriorChevrolet
GM has recalled 26,541 units of the oldest vehicle it builds. Well, the model is the oldest, at least, though these are all model year 2025 and 2026 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans. The problem is a loose nut in the steering box. As GM puts it, “these vehicles may have a steering gear assembly with a nut that was not properly tightened.” Through a safety report from a dealer, GM learned of a loose nut in the steering box of one 2025 Chevrolet Express van.
The investigation into that loose fastener identified a particular sensor at a supplier factory that was malfunctioning. According to documents filed with the NHTSA, the sensor allowed 51 steering gear assemblies to leave the factory with a nut that was only hand tight instead of properly tight. The steering gear, here, is the part that we’d refer to as the steering box. It’s the part that turns the motion of the steering wheel into the side-to-side motion of the tie rods.
GM knows the serial numbers of the 51 units but not which vehicles they were installed in. So dealers will need to get under each of the 26,541 vans to look for the serial number on the sticker on the part. If it’s on the list, or if the serial number isn’t visible, then the part will be replaced.
Related
Chevy’s 30-Year-Old Van Is So Immortal It Outlived Its Electric Kid Sibling
The 2026 Chevrolet Express is the oldest single-generation vehicle on the market, thriving while the Brightdrop EV fails.
Along with the initial report, GM told regulators it had found a total of 10 incidents likely related to the problem. It said that none involved an accident or injury. The company is warning that if the nut separates, it could cause a loss of steering control which increases the chances of a crash.
Even Time-Tested Vehicles Have Occasional Problems
2025 GMC Savana front 3/4 angle in white while parkedGMC
No, the steering gear in the 2026 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana is not the same as the one GM was using when this generation of the van first launched in 1996. But this is the same steering gear that it has been using since 2017, or at least the parts interchange forward and backward to that year according to company parts records.
It just goes to show that even vehicles that have been on the market for a very long time are not immune to recalls. Manufacturing a new car or truck is a complex process, with thousands of parts and suppliers involved that even the automaker might not be fully aware of. The record-keeping might not be quite as thorough as in the airline industry, but a recall like this, where GM is aware of 51 specific parts spread out over time, is still impressive.
Related
This Is The Oldest New Vehicle On Sale Today
Debuting for 1996 and refreshed for 2003, this vehicle has been frozen in time for 30 years.
Notifications to owners about the recall are set to go in the mail August 10. However, owners can already search for their VIN on the NHTSA’s recall database or through GM’s sites.
