Product Safety - Front Frame/Cradle Bolt Retainer Corrosion

THIS BULLETIN SUPERCEDES AND REPLACES CAMPAIGN BULLETIN 00065 ISSUED SEPTEMBER, 2000 IN THE U.S. ONLY. VEHICLES LOCATED IN THE CANADIAN PROVINCES OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEWFOUNDLAND, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, NOVA SCOTIA, ONTARIO, AND QUEBEC ARE BEING ADDED TO THE INVOLVED VEHICLE POPULATION.

THIS CAMPAIGN ONLY INCLUDES THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHICH PREVIOUSLY HAD THE REAR/FRAME CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS REPLACED UNDER CAMPAIGN 97016 ISSUED IN THE U.S., MAY 1997 (CANADA CAMPAIGN 95012/5D09A, ISSUED APRIL, 1995).

NOTE: CAMPAIGN 97016 IS STILL USED TO HANDLE 1990 AND EARLY 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA MINIVAN AND PONTIAC TRANS SPORT MODELS.

REFER TO CAMPAIGN 00061A, ISSUED MARCH 2001, FOR VEHICLES REQUIRING BOTH FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS REPLACED.

VEHICLES INCLUDED IN CAMPAIGN 00009 ENGINE CRADLE CORROSION (CANADA ONLY; ISSUED MAY, 1999) ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1988-90 and early 1991 Buick Regal, Chevrolet Lumina, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, and Pontiac Grand Prix model vehicles located in areas that have severe corrosion environments and heavy exposure to road salt. Some of these vehicles exhibit a condition in which the front frame/cradle bolts pull through the retainers due to corrosion of the retainer. If both front bolts pull through, the frame/cradle would not be properly supported and the intermediate steering shaft may separate from the steering gear. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.

Pursuant to the policy of the NHTSA, this recall campaign will include vehicles in:

Vehicles located in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec are also included.

Dealers are to replace the front frame/cradle bolts and retainers.

Involved are certain 1988-90 and early 1991 Buick Regal, Chevrolet Lumina, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, and Pontiac Grand Prix model vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints:

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) or GM Access Screen (Canada only) before beginning campaign repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.]

Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number. Computer listings containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data have been prepared, and are being furnished to involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. The customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

These dealer listings may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose is a violation of law in several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this campaign.

Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" before ordering parts. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. In an emergency situation, parts should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.

1. Raise the vehicle.
2. Support the front of the frame/cradle assembly.
3. Remove the front mount bolts and the lower retainers and discard.
4. Install the new bolts, P/N 10220561 and the front retainers, P/N 10203412 (black).

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 110 N·m (82 lb ft).

5. Remove the support and lower the vehicle.
6. Install the GM Campaign Identification Label.

Place a Campaign Identification Label on each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin. Each label provides a space to include the campaign number and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.

Put the Campaign Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. When installing the Campaign Identification Label, be sure to pull the tab to allow the adhesion of the clear protective covering. Additional Campaign Identification Labels for US dealers can be obtained from Dealer Support Material by calling 1-888-549-6152 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

Place a Campaign Identification Label on each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin. Each label provides a space to include the campaign number and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.

Put the Campaign Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. Additional Campaign Identification Labels for US dealers can be obtained from DGN by calling 1-800-668-5539 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number GMP 91 when ordering.

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:

Refer to the General Motors WINS Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

Customer requests for reimbursement of previously paid repairs to correct front frame/cradle retainer corrosion are to be submitted by October 31, 2001 for the U.S. (April 29, 2002 for Canada) (this time limit may be longer depending upon the law in your state/province/country).

Consideration for reimbursement will be allowed only if genuine General Motors parts were used. The amount to be reimbursed will be limited to the amount the repair would have cost if completed by an authorized General Motors dealer.

When a customer requests reimbursement, they must provide the following:

Claims for customer reimbursement on previously paid repairs are to be submitted as required by WINS.

Important: Refer to the GM Service Policies and Procedures Manual, section 1.6.2, for specific procedures regarding customer reimbursement verification.

Customers will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle which is subject to a recall campaign of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the customer has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within sixty days after tender of a vehicle is prima facie evidence of failure to repair within a reasonable time. If the condition is not adequately repaired within a reasonable time, the customer may be entitled to an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle at no charge or to a refund of the purchase price less a reasonable allowance for depreciation. To avoid having to provide these burdensome remedies, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. In the recall campaign notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the campaign is not completed within a reasonable time.

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this campaign MUST be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this campaign bulletin BEFORE customers take possession of these vehicles.

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to customers, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Customers who have recently purchased vehicles sold from your vehicle inventory, and for which there is no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer. Arrangements are to be made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such customers a copy of the customer letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the customer may not as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

Dear <Division(s)> Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1988-90 and early 1991 Buick Regal, Chevrolet Lumina, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, and Pontiac Grand Prix model vehicles located in areas that have severe corrosion environments and heavy exposure to road salt. Some of these vehicles exhibit a condition in which the front frame/cradle bolts pull through the retainers due to corrosion of the retainer. If both front bolts pull through, the frame/cradle would not be properly supported and the intermediate steering shaft may separate from the steering gear. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.

Pursuant to the policy of the NHTSA, this recall campaign will include vehicles in:

Vehicles located in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec are also included.

Your dealer will replace the front frame/cradle bolts and retainers. This service will be performed for you at no charge .

The length of time required to perform this service correction is approximately 20 minutes. Additional time may be required to schedule and process your vehicle. If you dealer has a large number of vehicles awaiting service, this additional time may be significant. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule, process and repair your vehicle.

Please contact your <Division> dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Parts are available and instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer.

Your <Division> dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide services to correct your vehicle as promptly as possible. Should your dealer be unable to schedule a service date within a reasonable time, you should contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the number listed below:

If, after contacting the appropriate customer assistance center, you are still not satisfied that we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge and within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20590 or call 1-800-327-4236.

Important: Your car was involved in an earlier recall the replace the rear frame/cradle bolts and retainers. This is a new recall, and you should contact your dealer to arrange a service date.

The attached customer reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction in the shortest possible time. If you no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by completing the attached and mailing it in the postage paid envelope.

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

<Division(s)>

General Motors Corporation

Enclosure