GM Recalls At Least 12,715 Chevy Express And GMC Savana Vans Because A Loose Steering Nut Can Separate While Driving, After An Earlier Recall Missed Some Of Them

General Motors is recalling at least 12,715 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans because a loose steering gear nut can separate while driving and cause a loss of steering control. The new recall, filed as NHTSA campaign 26V718, covers 2025 and 2026 vans built from January 21, 2025 through June 1, 2026.

A white van parked on a street, standing in for the full-size GM vans in the steering nut recall.

The twist is that this is the second round. An earlier recall in June 2026 missed some of the vans that needed the fix.

Owners can look up their VIN on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall page.

A Sensor At The Supplier Let Bad Assemblies Slip Through

The problem traces to Nexteer Automotive, which makes the steering gear assemblies. A malfunctioning sensor at its facility let some assemblies pass inspection without the nut being properly torqued.

That condition was contained at the supplier in May 2026. By then, some of the assemblies had already gone into vans.

The First Recall Covered Just 51 Serial Numbers

In June 2026, GM launched an earlier campaign, 26V399, covering 51 suspect serial numbers. That looked like the end of the matter.

Then in September, a dealer found a loose nut in a 2025 Express that had already been closed out under that campaign. A quality manager filed a report, and GM and Nexteer went back through the numbers.

Up To 108 Serial Numbers Had Been Left Off The List

Their review determined that up to 108 serial numbers had been wrongly omitted from the first recall. Those assemblies were then folded into the broader population of at least 12,715 vans in the new recall.

The vans include the full size Express and Savana, plus cutaway chassis versions. GM builds the full size vans at its Wentzville Assembly plant in Missouri, and the cutaway chassis at International Motors in Springfield, Ohio.

What A Loose Steering Gear Nut Can Mean On The Road

The steering gear is the box that turns your steering wheel motion into wheel movement. A nut that is not torqued correctly can work loose over time, and GM’s filing says it may separate while driving, causing a loss of steering control.

That is why the company treats it as a safety recall rather than a service tip. A van is often heavy with cargo or passengers, and losing steering at speed is among the most dangerous things that can go wrong.

Dealers Will Swap The Steering Gear Free Of Charge

Dealers will check each van’s serial number against the expanded list. If it matches, they will replace the steering gear assembly at no charge.

The replacement assemblies have correctly torqued nuts. Vans built after June 1, 2026 have properly fastened nuts, so newer vans are not part of this problem.

GM will mail owner letters on December 14, 2026. Affected VINs can be searched on the federal recall site and on the Chevrolet and GMC websites.

What Van Owners And Fleet Managers Should Do

Do not wait for the mail. Letters go out December 14, and a van on the road today is a van that could need the repair today. Check the VIN of every Express and Savana you drive or manage, even if it was once cleared under the earlier recall, because the new list is larger.

If a van was previously told it was not affected, check again. The whole point of this second recall is that some vans were left off the first list, so an old all clear may no longer hold.

For small business owners, the van is the business. Call the dealer, explain that it is a work vehicle, and ask for the earliest slot, since steering is not a part to put off.

Watch for warning signs in the meantime. Looseness or play in the steering wheel, clunking or knocking noises when turning, or a wheel that feels vague on center are all reasons to stop driving and call for service.

If you are shopping for a used Express or Savana, ask for the VIN and look it up before you hand over any money. Recall repairs stay with the vehicle, so a past owner may never have finished the job.

Remember, too, that the earlier recall number, 26V399, may appear on your vehicle’s history. Seeing it there does not mean you are finished, so confirm against the new campaign, 26V718.

If your dealer does not have the replacement steering gear on the shelf, ask to be put on a list and to be called the day it arrives. Staying in touch keeps you near the front of the line.

Fleet managers should keep a written list of each van’s VIN and the date the recall was checked. If a van changes hands inside the company, the note follows it.

It is worth giving credit where it is due. A dealer who noticed a loose nut in a van that was supposed to be fixed prompted GM to take a second look, and the company widened the recall as a result.

Steering is one of those systems you never think about until it matters. If you drive one of these vans, take a few minutes this week to check the number and book the free repair.

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