Recall - Steering Gear Pitman Shaft Fracture: Overview
SAFETYBulletin No.: 12055
Date: March 29, 2012
Subject: --12055 Steering Gear Pitman Shaft Fracture Inspect Steering Gear
Models:
2012 Chevrolet Express, Suburban
2012 GMC Savana, Yukon XL
Heavy Duty Vehicles
Condition
General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2012 model year Chevrolet Express and Suburban heavy duty vehicles, and GMC Savana and Yukon XL heavy duty vehicles. The steering gear pitman shaft may not have been properly hardened and could fracture. If a fracture occurs and progresses completely through the shaft, it could result in the loss of steering. If this happens while the vehicle is moving, a crash could occur.
Correction
Dealers are to inspect the steering gear and, if necessary, replace the steering gear pitman shaft.
Vehicles Involved
All involved vehicles are identified by Vehicle Identification Number on the Investigate Vehicle History screen in GM Global Warranty Management system. Dealership service personnel should always check this site to confirm vehicle involvement prior to beginning any required inspections and/or repairs. It is important to routinely use this tool to verify eligibility because not all similar vehicles may be involved regardless of description or option content.
For dealers with involved vehicles, a listing with involved vehicles containing the complete vehicle identification number, customer name, and address information has been prepared and will be provided to US and Canadian dealers through the GM GlobalConnect Recall Reports, or sent directly to export dealers. Dealers will not have a report available if they have no involved vehicles currently assigned.
The listing may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any purpose other than follow-up necessary to complete this recall 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 recall.
Parts Information
Parts required to complete this recall are to be obtained from General Motors Customer Care and Aftersales (GMCC&A). 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.
Service Procedure
Note
A step-by-step video of the service procedure below is available for review. It is strongly recommended that technicians watch this video prior to performing the required repair.
U.S. Dealers: To access the video, log onto gmtraining.com; select the "Resources" menu; scroll down and select "Training Materials". Select "Steering Gear Pitman Shaft Replacement". You will then be prompted to either open or save the video file. If you choose "Open", the video will play from the website. Due to the size of the file, there will be a delay before the video begins to play. If you choose "Save", the video will be saved to your computer in a location that you choose. The video can then be launched locally by double-clicking on it. This video will be available for viewing until December 31, 2012.
Canadian Dealers: The video is available in GlobalConnect under the Warranty Administration page under the sub section of Field Actions/Recalls. The file can be opened by selecting the link or downloaded by right clicking over the link and then selecting "Save Target As".
Note
Do NOT replace the steering gear. Perform the service procedure in this bulletin. If the steering gear is replaced, the production steering gear must be returned to the Warranty Parts Center (WPC) for review. Hold the steering gear until the WPC request is received.
1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in SI.
2. Locate the steering gear.
Important
Digits 4-8 of the TNG number signify day and year of the build. The digits in the 4-8 position in the illustration are 0382, which means the steering gear was built on the 38th day in 2012. This steering gear would require replacement of the steering gear pitman shaft and housing.
Note
A flashlight and mirror may be required to view the digits on the TNG label.
3. Determine the build date of the steering gear by reading the TNG number on the label. Refer to illustration. Refer to the table below to determine if the steering gear pitman shaft must be replaced.
- Steering Gear Date Code: January 19, 2012 or earlier - Proceed to Step 7
- Steering Gear Date Code: January 20, 2012 through February 22, 2012 (0202 through 0532) - Proceed to Step 4
- Steering Gear Date Code: February 23, 2012 or later - Proceed to Step 7
4. Remove the steering gear and replace the steering gear pitman shaft and housing cover. Refer to Steering Gear Pitman Shaft Replacement in SI.
5. Road test the vehicle. Drive the vehicle on the highway for ten minutes to determine steering effort and steering wheel return-to-center characteristics. If steering effort or steering return-to-center is poor, verify power steering fluid level, steering gear pitman shaft over-center preload and wheel angle and toe alignment.
6. Check power steering fluid level. Add fluid if required.
7. Record the TNG number on the repair order.
Courtesy Transportation - For US and Canada
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 Warranties. The availability of courtesy transportation to customers whose vehicles are within the warranty coverage period and involved in a product program 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.
Warranty Transaction Information
Submit a transaction using the table below.
* Enter the TNG number (recorded in Step 7) in the "Correction Description" field when submitting transaction.
** The amount identified in "Net Item" should represent the actual sum total of the current GMCC&A Dealer net price for actual amount of power steering fluid needed to perform the required repairs, plus applicable Mark-Up or Landed Cost (for Export).
Customer Notification - For US and Canada
General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).
Customer Notification - For Export
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 sample letter.
Dealer Recall Responsibility - For US and Export (US States, Territories, and Possessions)
The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle that 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 provided 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, you must take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.
Disclaimer