GENERAL MOTORS issued a recall on the ASTRO and SAFARI models

ON VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL ROD MAY SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN LOWER SHIFT LEVER. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE SHIFT INDICATOR MAY NOT REFLECT THE GEAR THE TRANSMISSION IS IN AND THE DRIVER COULD BELIEVE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS IN A FORWARD GEAR WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY IN REVERSE AND VICE-VERSA. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENGINE COULD BE STARTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN GEAR. EITHER OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: A NEW TRANSMISSION LINKAGE RETAINER WILL BE INSTALLED ON INVOLVED VEHICLES.