CAMPAIGN: STEERING WHEEL FRACTURE
PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN
SUBJECT: 95-C-73 - STEERING WHEEL FRACTURE --------------------------------=
MODELS: 1995 GEO TRACKER ----------------
The Highway 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 customer has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within sixty (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 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. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the divisional letter that is being sent to customers, the customers are being instructed to contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five (5) days of the mutually agreed upon service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, they are instructed on how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
DEFECT INVOLVED
General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in CERTAIN 1995 Geo Tracker model vehicles. These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the steering wheel center hub to spoke weld may fracture. This could allow the steering wheel to separate from the steering column.
Should this occur while the vehicle is in motion, a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.
To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, dealers are to inspect the steering wheel for the suspect steering wheel lot date code. Steering wheels found to have the suspect lot date code will be replaced.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are CERTAIN 1995 Geo Tracker model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:
PLANT YEAR DIVISION MODEL PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH ---- --------- ----- ----- ----- ---- -------
1995 Chevrolet/ Tracker Ingersoll "6" S6908446 S6912052 Geo
NOTICE: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through VISS (Vehicle Information Service System) prior to 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 State Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose is a violation of law in several states. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this campaign.
PARTS INFORMATION
Notice: Due to the small number of vehicles involved, dealers are encouraged not to order campaign parts for use as shelf stock. Parts should ONLY be ordered when inspection determines that it is necessary to replace the steering wheel due to suspect lot date code verification.
Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). After verification that the steering wheel has a suspect date code, ALL ORDERS should be placed via RAPID on a CSO order with the VIN number in the NOTE FIELD. All parts will be shipped via OVERNIGHT DELIVERY.
Part Quantity/ Number Description Vehicle ------ ----------- ---------
12534773 Steering Wheel As Required
Notice: It is estimated that approximately 350 of the 1000 involved vehicles will require steering wheel replacement. Please order your parts accordingly.
PARTS RETURN PROCEDURE
Suspect parts with lot date code 4273 must be returned prepaid to the following location:
"DO NOT SHIP COLLECT. TRANSPORTATION COST CAN BE REIMBURSED UNDER V9947 IN NET AMOUNT".
PARTS PACKAGING ATTN: DENNIS O'NEILL 391 EAST WILSON ST. PONTIAC, Mi 48053
Please provide a copy of the repair workorder with the suspect steering wheel.
CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION
Customers will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of divisional customer letter included with this bulletin). Customers will be offered free towing and alternate means of transportation if required. SEE ENCLOSED OWNER LETTER FOR DETAILS.
DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY
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 appropriate divisional 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.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
1. Center steering wheel.
2. Note all electrical settings then disconnect negative battery cable.
3. Remove horn pad.
4. Inspect for suspect date code (4273) as illustrated below.
5. If suspect lot date code IS present (4273) or missing, steering wheel MUST be replaced following Service Manual Procedures contained in Section 3F. If suspect date code IS NOT present, proceed to step 6.
6. Install horn pad.
7. Connect and tighten negative battery cable. Reset all electrical devises as noted in step 2.
8. Install GM Campaign Identification Label.
PARTS RETURN PROCEDURE
Suspect parts with lot date code 4273 must be returned prepaid to the following location:
"DO NOT SHIP COLLECT. TRANSPORTATION COST CAN BE REIMBURSED UNDER V9947 IN NET AMOUNT".
PARTS PACKAGING ATTN.- DENNIS O'NEILL 391 EAST WILS-OWST. PONTIAC Mi 48053
Please provide a copy of the repair workorder with the suspect steering wheel.
CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL
Each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin will require a "Campaign Identification Label". 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.
Each "Campaign Identification Label" is to be located on the radiator core support in an area which will be visible when the vehicle is brought in by the customer for periodic servicing. When installing the Campaign Identification Label, be sure to install the clear protective covering.
Additional Campaign Identification Labels can be obtained from VISPAC Incorporated by calling 1-800-269-5100 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering. Apply the "Campaign Identification Label" only on a clean, dry surface.
CLAIM INFORMATION
Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:
REPAIR PART FAILED PARTS LABOR LABOR NET PERFORMED COUNT PART NO. ALLOW CC-FC 0P HOURS ITEM --------- ----- --------- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----
Inspect for suspect MA-96 V9946 0.2 date code (or blank), None found- DO NOT replace.
Inspect for suspect 1 12534773 MA-96 V9947 0.3 *** date code, Replace steering wheel. Towing expense MA-96 T2750 @ Loaner car rental MA-96 T2751 @ expense
* For Campaign Administrative Allowance, add 0.1 hours to the "Labor Hours".
** The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO Dealer Net price plus 40% for parts required to complete the repair.
*** The amount identified in the "Net Item" column should represent the cost of returning the suspect steering wheel VIA UPS Ground Transportation..
@ The amount identified in the "Net Item" column should represent the total cost for towing and/or car rental .
Refer to the General Motors Corporation Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.
July, 1996
Dear Geo Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
REASON FOR THIS RECALL
General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in CERTAIN 1995 Geo Tracker model vehicles. These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the steering wheel center hub to spoke weld may fracture. This could allow the steering wheel to separate from the steering column. Should this occur while the vehicle is in motion, a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.
WHAT WE WILL DO
To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, your dealer will inspect your steering wheel for the suspect steering wheel lot date code. Steering wheels found to have the suspect lot date code will be replaced. This service will be performed at no charge to you.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Please contact your Chevrolet/Geo dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date and so the dealer may order the necessary parts for the repair. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer. The labor time necessary to perform this service correction is approximately fifteen minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.
The enclosed owner 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 have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage paid reply card and returning it to us.
Your Chevrolet dealer is best equipped to provide service to ensure that your vehicle is corrected as promptly as possible. If, however, you take your vehicle to your dealer on the agreed service date, and they do not remedy this condition on that date or within five (5) days, we recommend you contact the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center by calling 1- 800-222-1020.
After contacting your dealer and the Customer Assistance Center, if 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, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington D.C. residents use 202-366-0123).
COURTESY TRANSPORTATION
To minimize your inconvenience, Chevrolet and your Chevrolet dealer will offer you courtesy transportation options. If they do not fit your needs, or you do not wish to drive your vehicle to your dealer, pick-up of your vehicle will be arranged,
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.
Chevrolet Motor Division GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, do not assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.
