Recall - Fuel Tank Shield Installation

NUMBER: 86-C-08

GROUP: 6C - Engine Fuel

DATE: January, 1987

SUBJECT: FUEL TANK SHIELD INSTALLATION

MODELS: 1984, 1985 AND 1986 C35 LIGHT DUTY MODEL CAB AND CHASSIS

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, provides that each vehicle which is subject to a recall campaign of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the owner has tendered it for repair. A failure to adequately repair within 60 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 owner 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 solutions, every effort must be made to promptly schedule appointments with owners and to repair their vehicles as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the letter which is being sent to owners, the owner is being instructed to contact the nearest GMC Zone Office if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five days of the mutually agreed upon service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, they are instructed how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Figure 1:

DEFECT INVOLVED

General Motors has determined that certain 1984, 1985, and 1986 light duty GMC C35 cab and chassis models equipped with a low service body and loaded to the maximum required weight for an FMVSS 301 test failed to comply with the requirements of FMVSS 301 "Fuel System Integrity" during a 30 mph frontal barrier test. The impact caused a hole to be cut into the fuel tank which allowed greater than acceptable fuel spillage. Fuel spillage during and after such a collision could result in a fire. To correct this noncompliance, it will be necessary to add an additional shield to the front of the original equipment stone shield to protect the fuel tank in the event of a severe frontal impact.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are certain 1984, 1985 and 1986 C35 light duty cab and chassis built within the following VIN breakpoints:

Model
Plant Year From Through

Pontiac 1984 EV500536 EV553837
Janesville 1985 FJ508942 FJ530662
St. Louis 1985 FS512846 FS534247
Pontiac 1985 FV501259 FV605154
Janesville 1986 GJ500002 GJ527315
St. Louis 1986 GS500006 GS527888

The specific vehicles involved in this campaign have been identified on Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. These listings are furnished to all involved dealers with the campaign bulletin.

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward. Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used vehicle inventory, or it is in your dealership for service in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle. This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this campaign may not comply with the standard identified above Under Section 108 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, it is illegal for a dealer to sell a new motor vehicle which the dealer knows does not comply with an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. As a consequence, if you sell any of these motor vehicles without first performing the