Upper steering shaft bolt tightened wrongly that can leave the car without steering (Fiat Punto, 2009 recall)

Engine / equipment

Fiat Punto (Grande Punto), according to the ADAC's list

Period mentioned

Recall of 2009

Symptoms

If the steering shaft fork fails, the car can no longer be steered.

Possible cause described

According to the ADAC, with a wrong tightening torque on the upper steering shaft fixing bolt the shaft fork can fail and the car can no longer be steered. Dealers check the torque (reference range 11 to 25 Nm) and correct it to 30 Nm; if it is below 11 Nm or above 30 Nm, the shaft is replaced. Free and up to an hour if the shaft is replaced; action code 5397. In Germany it covered 41,000 cars.

Check for the garage

Ask Fiat by VIN whether it was done (an old recall). If the steering has play or makes noises when turning, do not keep driving and take it to a garage.

Cost cited in the source

Free under the recall.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Sources from the original database