Steering: linkages: drag: link: connection (TRW)
Vehicle equipment recall 04E-003. NHTSA received TRW AUTOMOTIVE INC’s report on Jan 12, 2004.
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The short answer
NHTSA received TRW AUTOMOTIVE INC’s report on Jan 12, 2004. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURIES OR DEATH.
REPLACEMENT CLAMP ASSEMBLIES AND DRAG LINK ASSEMBLIES THAT CONTAIN A POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE 5/8-11-GRADE B PREVAILING TORQUE HEX NUT MANUFACTURED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 14 AND DECEMBER 12, 2003.
IF THE FINAL TIGHTENING OF THE 5/8-11-GRADE B PREVAILING TORQUE HEX NUT IS LESS THAN 65 LB.-FT, THE CLAMP LOAD WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLY LOW AND COULD COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE DRAG LINK TO THE POINT WHERE THE BALL SOCKET COULD SEPARATE FROM THE DRAG LINK CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Steering: linkages: drag: link: connection.
What should you do?
TRW HAS NOTIFIED THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS WHICH THEY WILL NOTIFY THEIR CUSTOMERS. NOTIFICATION TO CUSTOMER BEGAN JANUARY 14, 2004. THE REMEDY IS TO EITHER TORQUE THE NUT TO 75 - 85 LB.-FT. OF TORQUE, OR TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE NUT WITH A NEW ONE. THIS REPAIR WILL BE PREFORMED AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: ALSO, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 1,527 items potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- TRW Drag Link AssemblyBuilt from Nov 14, 2003 to Dec 12, 2003
Who is recalling it?
- Made by TRW AUTOMOTIVE INC.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Which ones, by part or lot: the recall’s report on NHTSA’s site gives them where the maker did; this file gives part numbers only where its maker listed them.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 20, 2026 and checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 20, 2026.