GM sues steering column supplier

[rickaren]

GM sues steering column supplier

Posted on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 2:22 PM EST. (Employee News)

General Motors Co. has sued a supplier over problems with steering columns that have so far cost the automaker more than $30 million to fix, the Detroit Free Press reported.

The Detroit automaker is seeking damages from JTEKT North America Inc. and subsidiary JTEKT Automotive Virginia Inc. for problems associated with steering products used in the Chevrolet Cobalt and other GM vehicles since 2005, the paper said. GM claims the steering columns “had excessive gear backlash, thereby causing the columns to rattle under certain driving conditions,” the Free Press noted.

Problems with the parts resulted in an “unexpectedly high number” of warranty claims and complaints about “unusual rattles, ‘clunks’ or other noises emanating from the steering assemblies in their vehicles,” GM alleges in the lawsuit, originally filed in Macomb County Circuit Court but moved last week to federal court in Detroit, the paper said. While the problem has already cost GM more than $30 million, the automaker said it expects the bill will rise as GM customers file additional warranty claims, the story said. (Detroit Free Press)