Product Safety 00047 - Rear Wheel Spindle Rod Bolts

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2000 Buick Century/Regal and Chevrolet Lumina model vehicles equipped with rear drum brakes. Some of these vehicles exhibit a condition in which the bolt head(s) on the rear spindle rod may separate. There may be noticeable rattle in the rear suspension. If the remaining portion of the bolt breaks, the wheel can shift, causing rear steering of the vehicle. The driver could lose control and a crash could occur without prior warning.

Dealers are to replace the rear spindle rod bolts on involved vehicles.

Involved are certain 2000 Buick Century/Regal and Chevrolet Lumina model vehicles equipped with rear drum brakes and built within these VIN breakpoints:

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) or GM Access Screen (Canada only) or DCS Screen 445 (IPC 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.

Important: An initial supply of parts required to complete this campaign will be pre-shipped to involved dealers of record. This pre-shipment is scheduled to begin the week of June 12, 2000. Pre-shipped parts will be charged to dealer's open parts account.

1. Raise and suitably support the vehicle.
2. Remove both rear wheel and tire assemblies.
3. One at a time, remove each spindle rod-to-knuckle attaching bolt and hard start the new bolt. Repeat for all four bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the four spindle rod-to-knuckle attaching bolts to 210 N·m (156 lb ft).

4. Remove any corrosion or dirt from the wheel bearing and the wheel assembly mounting surfaces.
5. Install the wheel and tire assemblies and hand start the wheel nuts.

Tighten
Using a torque limiting socket or torque wrench and following the three step star pattern procedure, tighten the wheel nuts to 140 N·m (100 lb ft).

6. Install the GM Campaign Identification Label.

FOR US AND IPC

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.

Additional Campaign Identification Labels for IPC dealers can be obtained from your Regional Marketing Office.

FOR CANADA

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 Canadian 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.

FOR US AND CANADA

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

FOR IPC

Letters will be sent to known owners of record located within areas covered by the US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. For owners outside these areas, dealers should notify customers using the attached suggested dealer letter.

FOR US AND IPC (US States, Territories, and Possessions)

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.

FOR ALL

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.

Suggested Dealer Letter

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2000 Buick Century/Regal and Chevrolet Lumina model vehicles equipped with rear drum brakes. Some of these vehicles exhibit a condition in which the bolt head(s) on the rear spindle rod may separate. There may be noticeable rattle in the rear suspension. If the remaining portion of the bolt breaks, the wheel can shift, causing rear steering of the vehicle. The driver could lose control and a crash could occur without prior warning.

We will replace the rear spindle rod bolts on your vehicle. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

Please contact us as soon as possible to arrange a service date.

We sincerely regret any inconvenience this causes you; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products.

GMODC

General Motors Corporation

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 2000 Buick Century/Regal and Chevrolet Lumina model vehicles equipped with rear drum brakes. Some of these vehicles exhibit a condition in which the bolt head(s) on the rear spindle rod may separate. There may be noticeable rattle in the rear suspension. If the remaining portion of the bolt breaks, the wheel can shift, causing rear steering of the vehicle. The driver could lose control and a crash could occur without prior warning.

Your dealer will replace the rear spindle rod bolts on your vehicle. 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/Relations 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 1-800-424-9393 (Washington, DC residents use 202-366-0123).

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.

Your dealer may provide you with shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation while your vehicle is at the dealership for this repair. Please refer to your Owner's Manual and your dealer for details on Courtesy Transportation.

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