TSB: ACURA ALERO, ASTRO, CAVALIER, CENTURY, CIVIC, COOPER, GRAND AM, INSIGHT, MDX, REGAL, SAFARI, SIERRA, SILVERADO, SUNFIRE (1995–2002)
Bulletin 291001 — October 29, 2001
Bulletin Details
| Bulletin ID | 291001 |
| Manufacturer | ACURA |
| Models | ALERO, ASTRO, CAVALIER, CENTURY, CIVIC, COOPER, GRAND AM, INSIGHT, MDX, REGAL, SAFARI, SIERRA, SILVERADO, SUNFIRE |
| Model Years | 1995–2002 |
| Date Issued | October 29, 2001 |
| Date Added to NHTSA | March 5, 2002 |
| Component | STEERING:COLUMN |
| Vehicles Affected | 42 combinations |
What is a TSB?
A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.
If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.
Summary
A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE THE TILT STEERING COLUMN IS LOCKING IN THE NUMBER FOUR OR FULL UP POSITION. *TT
Affected Vehicles
| Make | Model | Year | Component |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET | ASTRO | 2002 | 353400 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. |
| CHEVROLET | CAVALIER | 2002 | 122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS |
| CHEVROLET | CAVALIER | 2002 | 061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE |
| BUICK | CENTURY | 2002 | 012000 STEERING:COLUMN |
| HONDA | CIVIC | 2002 | 131000 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD |
| BUICK | REGAL | 2002 | 012000 STEERING:COLUMN |
| GMC | SAFARI | 2002 | 353400 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. |
| GMC | SIERRA | 2002 | 061200 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL |
| CHEVROLET | SILVERADO | 2002 | 061200 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL |
| PONTIAC | SUNFIRE | 2002 | 122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS |
| PONTIAC | SUNFIRE | 2002 | 061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE |
| CHEVROLET | CAVALIER | 2001 | 122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS |
| BUICK | CENTURY | 2001 | 012000 STEERING:COLUMN |
| HONDA | CIVIC | 2001 | 131000 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD |
| HONDA | INSIGHT | 2001 | 103100 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) |
| ACURA | MDX | 2001 | 180000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL |
| BUICK | REGAL | 2001 | 012000 STEERING:COLUMN |
| PONTIAC | SUNFIRE | 2001 | 122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS |
| OLDSMOBILE | ALERO | 2000 | 061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE |
| CHEVROLET | CAVALIER | 2000 | 061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE |
| CHEVROLET | CAVALIER | 2000 | 122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS |
| BUICK | CENTURY | 2000 | 012000 STEERING:COLUMN |
| PONTIAC | GRAND AM | 2000 | 061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE |
| BUICK | REGAL | 2000 | 012000 STEERING:COLUMN |
| PONTIAC | SUNFIRE | 2000 | 122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS |
| PONTIAC | SUNFIRE | 2000 | 061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE |
| CHEVROLET | CAVALIER | 1999 | 122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS |
| PONTIAC | SUNFIRE | 1999 | 122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS |
| CHEVROLET | CAVALIER | 1998 | 122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS |
| PONTIAC | SUNFIRE | 1998 | 122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS |
| CHEVROLET | CAVALIER | 1997 | 122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS |
| PONTIAC | SUNFIRE | 1997 | 122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS |
| CHEVROLET | CAVALIER | 1996 | 122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS |
| PONTIAC | SUNFIRE | 1996 | 122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS |
| CHEVROLET | CAVALIER | 1995 | 122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS |
| PONTIAC | SUNFIRE | 1995 | 122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS |
| COOPER | COOPER | — | 980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER |
| COOPER | COOPER | — | 980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER |
| COOPER | COOPER | — | 980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER |
| COOPER | COOPER | — | 980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER |
| COOPER | COOPER | — | 980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER |
| ACURA | MDX | — | 136000 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER |
Related ACURA Recalls
What Should You Do?
If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized ACURA dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (291001) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.
Frequently Asked Questions
A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.
If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.
Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.
This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.