If you own or manage a 2025 or 2026 Chevrolet Express or GMC Savana van, the Chevy Express and GMC Savana steering recall is the one to check now. NHTSA campaign 26V718 covers 12,715 vans in the United States where a steering gear nut may not have been tightened properly. The nut can separate while driving and cause a loss of steering control. The fix is free at a dealer, but only for vans whose steering gear serial number matches the list.
The question most owners type into Google is short: is my van included, and what do I do before the owner letter arrives? The answer comes from the VIN, not the model name, and from whether an earlier GM recall, 26V399, already covered your van. This field guide walks through the checks in order, explains why GM opened a second campaign, and lists the mistakes that delay the repair.
Chevy Express and GMC Savana steering recall: is my van included?
Start with the 17-character VIN. Recall 26V718 applies to 2025 and 2026 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans, but the remedy depends on the steering gear assembly. Dealers inspect the steering gear serial number against an expanded list, so two vans of the same model year can get different answers. GM's figures put the total at 8,693 Chevy Express and 4,022 GMC Savana vans, or 12,715 in all.
Run the check in this order:
- Read the VIN from the corner of the dashboard visible through the windshield, or from the certification label on the driver's door jamb.
- Enter the VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It reports open recalls for that specific vehicle.
- Look for 26V718 by name. If only 26V399 appears, ask the dealer whether the van also needs re-inspection, because vans not properly inspected under the first campaign need that check under 26V718.
- Repeat the check for every VIN on a fleet list, not only the vans you drive every day.
One trade summary of the recall says VINs for this campaign became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 29, 2026. If the lookup returns nothing for a van you know is in the build range, do not assume it is clear. Call a dealer with the VIN and ask them to check the steering gear serial number directly.
What a loose steering gear nut can do on the road
The steering gear turns the movement of the steering wheel into movement of the front wheels. In these vans, the defect is a nut that was not tightened to the required level. When it works loose and separates while driving, the driver can lose steering control. A loss of steering control is a serious outcome, so treat this as a safety recall, not a routine service item. Do not wait for a dashboard light to act, because the recall summary does not describe one.
Look for changes in how the van feels. The steering wheel may have more play than usual, the front end may clunk over bumps or dips, or the van may drift in a straight lane. These signs have many possible causes, and an unrelated problem can feel similar. A van under this recall that shows any of them should be stopped at a safe place and taken to a dealer, not driven across town to fit in an appointment.
Why GM opened a second steering recall for these vans
Recall 26V399 came first. GM later found that the earlier campaign missed some suspect steering gear assemblies, so it opened 26V718 to cover the gap. Both campaigns concern the same defect, a steering gear nut that may not be tightened, and the new one covers serial numbers the first one left out. That explains why one van can show both recall numbers. Some reports also quote a combined figure of 26,541 vans across both campaigns, while 12,715 is the count for 26V718 alone.
Consider a small plumbing company with four 2025 Chevy Express vans. The owner had one van inspected under 26V399 in the spring and assumed the whole group was covered. When the owner ran all four VINs, one van showed 26V399 as complete and 26V718 as open. A third van came back clear, but the owner still asked the dealer to check its serial number, because the earlier campaign had missed some parts. The scenario shows why one VIN check for one van is not enough.
How to book the free steering gear repair
Dealers do the work, and the owner pays nothing when the steering gear serial number is on the list. GM expects to mail owner notification letters on December 14, 2026, but the letter is not the only way to start. Owners can call GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267 for GMC or 1-800-222-1020 for Chevrolet, or call a dealer's service department directly.
- Have the VIN and recall number 26V718 ready before you call.
- Ask the service advisor to check the steering gear serial number now, instead of waiting for the letter.
- If the part is replaced, ask for a repair order that names 26V718 and lists the new steering gear assembly.
- File that repair order with the van papers, and run the VIN lookup again later to confirm the recall reads as complete.
What to do while you wait for the repair
The recall summary I reviewed does not say whether owners should park the van until the repair, so read the owner letter when it arrives and call GM if the instructions are unclear. Until then, the decision belongs to the owner or fleet manager working with the dealer, not to a driver's guess about how the van feels that day.
If a van is in daily service, the fleet manager should ask the dealer whether it can keep running before the inspection and get that answer in writing. A van with play, clunking or drift should not be driven for work at all, whatever the schedule says.
Fleet managers: keeping recall status for several vans in one place
A contractor or delivery fleet can have a dozen Express or Savana vans with different service histories, different drivers and different dealers. A shared spreadsheet holds the VINs, but it rarely shows which van has the replacement done, which has a dealer date and which needs a second look. Use one row per VIN, with columns for the recall number, serial check result, appointment date, repair order number and the date you last ran the NHTSA lookup.
For a small fleet, a digital log such as CarDiary, which you fill in yourself and which is not an official NHTSA register, is easier to audit than a shared spreadsheet, and the CarDiary VIN check page at https://www.car-diary.net/en/check-vin is a useful starting point.
Mistakes that delay the steering recall fix
- Assuming a 26V399 visit settles the matter. Some vans were not properly inspected under the first campaign, so the serial check under 26V718 still matters.
- Waiting for the December 14 letter before calling. A phone call to a dealer can start the serial check sooner.
- Mistyping the VIN. VINs never use the letters I, O or Q, so a letter O or I in what you typed is a sign of a misread character.
- Mixing totals. The 12,715 figure is for 26V718 alone, and the 26,541 figure combines both campaigns. Check your own VIN, not the headline number.
- Buying a used van and assuming the recall stayed with the seller. Open recalls follow the vehicle, so a used Express or Savana needs a fresh VIN check at purchase.
Frequently asked questions about the Chevy Express and GMC Savana recall
Is the steering gear repair free?
Yes. According to the recall summary, dealers inspect the steering gear serial number and replace the assembly at no charge when it matches the list.
Do I have to wait for the owner letter?
No. GM expects letters to go out on December 14, 2026, but you can call GM customer service or a dealer now and ask for the serial check.
Why do some reports list 26,541 vans?
Some reports combine the first recall, 26V399, with 26V718. The 26V718 campaign alone covers 12,715 vehicles.
Can I drive my van while I wait for the repair?
The recall summary does not say to park it, so read the owner letter for interim instructions. If the steering feels loose, clunks or drifts, stop driving the van and call a dealer.
