Recall - Steering Knuckle Interference: Overview
Product Safety - Steering Knuckle Interference # 03044A - (04/02/2004)03044A -- Steering Knuckle Interference
2003 Chevrolet Astro
2003 GMC Safari
Rear-Wheel Drive
This bulletin is being revised to include U.S. and Export vehicles. The original bulletin was for Canadian vehicles only. The service procedure has also been revised.
Condition
General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2003 model year Chevrolet Astro and GMC Safari rear-wheel drive vans. Some of these vehicles have an interference condition between the lower ball joint rubber boots and the steering knuckles that may cut the boots that are intended to seal the ball joints. If the lower ball joint(s) were cut, contamination from the road (salt, dirt, water, etc.) could enter the ball socket area of the ball joint, resulting in accelerated ball joint wear. Once the socket is worn to a size nearly the diameter of the ball, the ball stud can separate from the socket. If the lower ball joint separated while the vehicle was moving, the affected corner of the vehicle would drop down and the coil spring would push the control arm down into contact with the ground, causing the vehicle to slow down. The affected wheel assembly would turn outward, also slowing the vehicle. Although the driver would have steering control of the unaffected wheel, maintaining directional control of the vehicle could become difficult and a crash could occur.
Correction
Dealers are to modify the steering knuckles and replace the lower ball joints.
Vehicles Involved
Involved are certain 2003 model year Chevrolet Astro and GMC Safari vehicles equipped with rear-wheel drive, and built within the VIN breakpoints shown.
Important
Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) before beginning recall repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.]
For US
For dealers with involved vehicles, a Campaign Initiation Detail Report containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data has been prepared and will be loaded to the GM DealerWorld, Recall Information website. The customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow up with customers involved in this program.
For Canada & IPC
Computer listings containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data of involved vehicles have been prepared, and are being furnished to involved dealers. The customer name and address data will enable dealers to follow up with customers involved in this recall. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the recall 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 report to the follow-up necessary to complete this program.
Parts Information
Parts Pre-Ship Information - For US
Important
An initial supply of parts required to complete this program will be pre-shipped to involved dealers of record. This pre-shipment is scheduled to begin the week of March 22, 2004. Pre-shipped parts will be charged to dealer's open parts account.
Parts Pre-Ship Information - For Canada
Important
An initial supply of parts required to complete this program will be pre-shipped to involved dealers of record. This pre-shipment is scheduled to began the week of Feb 9, 2004, and was approximately 20% of each dealer's involved vehicles. Pre-shipped parts were charged to dealer's open parts account.
Additional parts, if required, 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.
Special Tool/Video Tape
During the week of December 29, 2003, and continuing through the week of January 26, 2004, each dealer that stocked or sold a 2003 Astro or Safari was shipped a Knuckle Modification Kit, CH-47576, for use in this recall. This tool kit is being furnished at no charge. Additional tool kits, if required, may be purchased by contacting SPX Kent-Moore at 1-800-GM-TOOLS (1-800-468-6657).
For US
An instructional video titled, "2003 Astro/Safari 2WD Steering Knuckle Modification Video - Recall 03044", is available on the GM Service and Parts Operations website. This video demonstrates the use of the new essential tool CH-47576, Knuckle Modification Kit. Dealers without high speed internet connections may order a CD copy of this repair procedure video at their expense from the GM DealerWorld DWD Online store.
To access the video via high speed internet, follow the instructions below:
For US:
1. Go to the SI home page in normal fashion: http://service.gm.com.
2. Click on the Service Information tab.
3. Go to the bottom of the topic list and locate the link for 2003 Astro/Safari 2WD Steering Knuckle Modification Video - Recall 03044.
ITEM TIP(c)
4. The next step is important. RIGHT CLICK on the link.
5. Click on OPEN IN NEW WINDOW. This opens the large-size video viewer. If you LEFT CLICK, the viewer will open at reduced size.
ITEM TIP(C)
6. On some browsers, it may be necessary to drag the viewer to full size using the arrow in the lower right corner of the viewer. Once the video has downloaded, click the PLAY arrow to view the video. It runs about 4 minutes. Use the slider to control the volume of the narrative soundtrack. You may rewind the video and view it additional times. When you are finished, click on the X in the upper right to close the video viewer.
For Canada
An instructional video entitled, "2003 Astro/Safari 2WD Steering Knuckle Modification Video - Recall 03044", is also available on GMinfoNet. It is found on the Recall Information page of the Service and Body section. This video demonstrates the use of the new essential tool CH-47576, Knuckle Modification Kit.
Courtesy Transportation
The General Motors Courtesy Transportation program is intended to minimize customer inconvenience when a vehicle requires a repair that is covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The availability of courtesy transportation to customers whose vehicles are within the warranty coverage period and involved in a product recall is very important in maintaining customer satisfaction. Dealers are to ensure that these customers understand that shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation is available and will be provided at no charge. Dealers should refer to the General Motors Service Policies and Procedures Manual for Courtesy Transportation guidelines.
Claim Information
Submit a Product Recall claim with the information shown.
Refer to the General Motors WINS claims Processing Manual for details on Product Recall claim Submission.
Customer Notification -- For US and Canada
General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter shown in this bulletin).
Customer Notification -- For
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 sample letter shown.
Dealer Recall Responsibility -- 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 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 notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the recall is not completed within a reasonable time.
Dealer Recall Responsibility -- All
All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this recall MUST be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this recall bulletin BEFORE customers take possession of these vehicles.
Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this recall 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. A copy of the customer letter is shown in this bulletin for your use in contacting customers. Recall 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 recall enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.
Disclaimer