Product Safety - Front Lower Control Arm Bracket Failure

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer, Oldsmobile Bravada, and GMC Envoy vehicles. Under certain circumstances it may be possible for either front lower control arm bracket to fracture. This fracture could result in separation of the front lower control arm from the frame. A separation could result in loss of vehicle control, and a crash could occur without prior warning.

Dealers are to replace the left and the right front lower control arm bracket.

DO NOT DRIVE THESE VEHICLES UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. Dealers are to contact the customer to arrange to have the customer's vehicle towed to the dealership. Dealers are to provide the customer with a comparable GM vehicle that the customer is comfortable with, where available, until the campaign repair is made to the vehicle.

Involved are certain 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer, Oldsmobile Bravada, and GMC Envoy vehicles.

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.

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 April 16, 2001. This first pre-shipment of parts is for customer-delivered vehicles. As additional parts become available, they will be shipped to you for use on your inventory vehicles. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ORDER ADDITIONAL PARTS. PARTS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN HAVE BEEN PLACED ON "PART RESTRICTION". All dealer orders will be cancelled. When sufficient inventory is available, the Parts Restriction will be removed, and you will be notified via Rapid Message when normal part ordering can be resumed. This part restriction is in place to provide an equitable distribution of parts to involved dealers in this urgent situation. Your support of this process is appreciated.

New lower control arm brackets can be identified by a white paint mark on the outboard edge of the bracket

1. Raise and suitably support the vehicle.
2. Remove both of the front wheel and tire assemblies.
3. Remove the 3 bolts that attach the lower control arm (LCA) brackets to the frame on both sides of the vehicle.

Important: Note the LCA to LCA bracket bolt direction for installation purposes.

4. Remove the LCA to LCA bracket mounting nuts and bolts from both LCAs.

Notice: Do not damage the steering gear bolts when removing the rear LCA bolts.

Important: Do not disengage the axle shafts from the transmission on 4WD/AWD vehicles.

5. Pivot both the LCAs downward to provide clearance for removal of the LCA brackets.
6. Remove both of the LCA brackets from the frame pockets and discard.
7. Install the new LCA brackets into the frame pockets and hand-start the mounting bolts.
8. Pivot the LCAs upward and install the LCA to LCA bracket mounting bolts in the direction noted in Step 4.
9. Install and tighten the LCA to LCA bracket mounting bolt nuts.

Tighten
Tighten the nuts to 110 N·m (81 lb ft).

10. Tighten the front LCA bracket to frame mounting bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 260 N·m (192 lb ft).

11. Tighten the rear LCA bracket to frame mounting bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 240 N·m (177 lb ft).

12. Install the front wheel and tire assemblies and tighten the lug nuts following the steps below.

12.1.

Hand tighten all the lug nuts.

12.2.

Tighten all the lug nuts to approximately 1/2 of the specification using the star pattern.

12.3.

Tighten all the lug nuts to the specification of 125 N·m (92 lb ft), using the star pattern.

13. Lower the vehicle.

Important: If jounce procedure is to be performed on alignment equipment and the vehicle front wheels are positioned on the swivel plates, the plate pins must be installed to lock the plates in position.

14. With the front suspension fully supporting the vehicle (as if the vehicle is sitting on the ground), loosen the LCA to LCA mounting bolt nuts (approximately 2 full rotations).
15. Jounce the front of the vehicle 3 times to ensure that the LCA bracket bushings have returned to their neutral position.
16. Tighten the LCA to LCA bracket mounting bolt nuts.

Tighten
Tighten the nuts to 110 N·m (81 lb ft).

17. Fill the tank with fuel.
18. Check the front wheel alignment following the applicable Service Manual procedure and using the revised torque and alignment specifications below.
19. Wash the vehicle.
20. Install the GM Campaign Identification Label.

Notice: Specifications for the LCA bracket bolts must be achieved to ensure vehicle alignment settings are maintained.

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.

Dealers in possession of vehicles included in the Stop Delivery are eligible for reimbursement of floor pan expense upon completion of this campaign. This reimbursement is limited to the number of days from the Stop Delivery message to receipt of the campaign parts and/or repair procedures. Floor plan reimbursement beyond these dates is not allowed. The amount of reimbursement should be charged as a net amount expense using the campaign labor operation provided.

FOR US AND CANADA

Dealers were requested to notify customers of this campaign. General Motors also contacted customers via telephone calls. General Motors will also notify the customer of this campaign by first class mail (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

FOR IPC

Dealers were requested to notify customers of this campaign. General Motors also contacted customers via telephone calls. 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 call customers and then mail the customer a letter 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 not be driven and 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 GM Customer:

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

Important: You may have already been contacted regarding this recall campaign by your GM dealer of by the GM Customer Assistance Center, but this letter is to inform you to contact your GM dealer immediately. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE.

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, and Oldsmobile Bravada vehicles. Under certain circumstances it may be possible for either front lower control arm bracket to fracture. This fracture could result in separation of the front lower control arm from the frame. A separation could result in loss of vehicle control, and a crash could occur without prior warning.

Contact your GM dealer as soon as possible to arrange to have your vehicle towed to the dealership. Do not drive your vehicle to the dealership. Your dealer will provide you with alternate transportation while your vehicle is at the dealership for this repair.

Our 24 hour-a-day efforts have resulted in a repair procedure that can be performed at your GM dealership. Parts will be shipped VIP overnight express to your dealer as soon as they can be produced. The dealership will accomplish your vehicle's repair on a top priority basis and will contact you when repairs are completed. Should your dealer be unable to arrange to have your vehicle towed to the dealership and repaired within a reasonable time, or if you have any further questions, please contact the GM Customer Assistance Center at 866-226-6622.

If, after contacting the GM 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 to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call 1-888-327-4236.

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.

General Motors Corporation

Enclosure