CAMPAIGN:STEEL WHEELS CRACKING

SUBJECT: STEEL WHEELS

YEAR: 1988 - 1990

MODEL: CUTLASS SUPREME

IMPORTANT

This bulletin is a revision of Oldsmobile Product Campaign Bulletin 90-C-11, dated April 1994. The "VEHICLES INVOLVED" and the "SERVICE PROCEDURE" sections have been revised. Specifically, the VIN breakpoints have expanded and additional wheel disc codes have been added to the involved wheel population. Please discard all copies of bulletin 90-C-11 and all copies of the two (2) subsequent DCS messages; DCS message (# 94-262) sent on September 2, 1994 and DCS message (# 95-016) sent on January 19, 1995.

TO: All Oldsmobile Retailers

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, provides that each vehicle 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 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 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 an appointment with each owner and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the included copy of the letter that is being sent to owners, the owners are being instructed to contact the Oldsmobile Customer Assistance Network (OCAN) if their retailer 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 determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1988 through 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme model vehicles equipped with 14 inch steel wheels (RPO PB9). These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface and, should the cracks become severe enough, the wheel could completely separate from the vehicle. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, steering and braking control of the vehicle could be affected, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.

To prevent the possibility of this condition from occurring, retailers are to inspect the manufacturing date codes stamped on each wheel to determine if the wheels were produced during the period prior to our correcting this condition. Whenever a wheel falls within the specified date code range, retailers are to replace that wheel assembly.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Certain 1988 through 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme vehicles equipped with 14 inch steel wheels (RPO PB9) within the breakpoints listed below:

YEAR MODEL MODEL NAME BEGINNING VIN ENDING VIN

1988 w Cutlass Supreme JD344448 JD394848 1989 w Cutlass Supreme KD300037 KD378618 1990 w Cutlass Supreme LD337253 LD380237

NOTE: Only vehicles with the RPO PB9, 14 inch steel wheels are involved. Vehicles with the cast aluminum alloy wheels are not involved.

All vehicles listed on the retailer printout wil require inspection and/or correction. Campaign involvement, or campaign completion of any vehicle(s) in question, can be verified by utilizing VISS (Vehicle Information Service System).

Involved vehicles have been identified by VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) listings. Computer listings contain the complete VIN, owner name and address data, and are furnished to involved retailers with this campaign bulletin. Owner name and address data furnished will enable retailers to follow-up with owners involved with the campaign.

These listings may contain owner 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. Any retailer not receiving a computer listing with the included campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles curre assigned.

All vehicles listed on the retailer's printout will require inspection/correction. Other suspect vehicles should be checked for campaign involvement by utilizing the Vehicle Information Service System (V.I.S.S.). The campaign printout sent to retailers with involved vehicles indicates the vehicles which are equipped with inch steel wheels (RPO PB9).

OWNER NOTIFICATION

Owners will be notified of this recall on their vehicles by Oldsmobile Division (see copy of the owner letter included with this bulletin).

RETAILER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

All unsold new vehicles in retailers' possession and subject to this campaign must be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this campaign bulletin before owners take possession of these vehicles. campaign is completed, the vehicle may be released for sale/delivery.

Retailers 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.

Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory with no owner information indicated on the retailer listing are to be contacted by the retailer, and arrangements made to make the required correction according to instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such owners a copy of the owner's a copy of the owner's letter included in this bulletin. Campaign follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the owner may as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used vehicle inventory, or it i your retail facility for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction been made before selling or releasing the vehicle. Your cooperation in completing this campaign as soon possible will be greatly appreciated.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. Remove wheel cover, using care to avoid damage to cover and wheel surfaces.

2. Thoroughly clean outer surface of wheel using appropriate cleaning materials and tools.

Notice: Wheel must be cleaned to assure correct reading and interpretation of date code stamped on the center portion of the wheel.

3. Read and record on repair order date code data stamped on center portion of wheel in the following or (See Figure 1):

A. Manufacturer, Plant and Year Codes.

B. Disc Code.

C. Day code is not to be considered.

If codes match any of the combinations below or are unreadable/illegible, the wheel must be replaced.

MANUFACTURER (M) PLANT (P) YEAR (Y) DISC CODE ---------------- --------- -------- --------- K 2 8 J K 2 8 K K 2 8 L K 2 8 M K 2 8 N K 2 8 O K 2 8 P K 2 8 Q K 2 8 R K 2 8 S K 2 8 T K 2 8 U K 2 8 V K 2 8 W K 2 9 A K 2 9 B K 2 9 C K 2 9 Y K 2 9 EE K 2 9 FF K 2 9 GG K 2 9 JJ K 2 9 KK K 2 9 LL

K 2 0 A

4. Repeat above procedure for remaining three wheels on vehicle.

5. As required by inspection, replace necessary wheels (and balance). Use torque stick and air gun to tighten lug nuts to appropriate torque.

6. Render all removed wheels unusable and scrap as required by campaign procedures.

7. Install a Campaign Identification Label.

CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Each label provides space to print the campaign number and the five (5) digit retailer code of the retailer performing the campaign. Insert this information with a typewriter or ball-point pen. When installing label, clean and dry the surface of the radiator support tie bar and apply the campaign label where it is readily visible.

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 for periodic servicing by the owner. Apply the Campaign Identification Label on a clean, dry surface.

PARTS INFORMATION

Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). To ensure that any parts your retail facility may require are obtained as soon as possible, order them from GMSPO on a C.I.O. order, with no special instruction code, but order on an advise code (2).

DUE TO INITIAL PARTS AVAILABILITY FOR THE 14 INCH STEEL WHEEL (P/N 9592409), RETAILERS ARE ENCOURAGED NOT TO ORDER THIS PART FOR USE AS SHELF STOCK.

DESCRIPTION PART NUMBER QUANTITY/VEHICLE ----------- ----------- ---------------- 14 inch Steel Wheel 9592409 1 to 4 - as required Valve Stem 9439866 1 to 4 - as required

WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION

Submit claims using only one of the "V" labor-ops below for each vehicle:

FAILURE LABOR LABOR STRAIGHT OPERATION CODE OPERATION HOURS# TIME (ST)* --------------------------------------------------------------------- Inspect all Wheels, No Wheels Replaced 96 V8620 .2 .1 Inspect all Wheels & Replace 1 Wheel 96 V8621 .5 .1 Inspect all Wheels & Replace 2 Wheels 96 V8621 .7 .1 Inspect all Wheels & Replace 3 Wheels 96 V8621 .9 .1 Inspect all Wheels & Replace 4 Wheels 96 V8621 1.1 .1

* Administration Allowance: 0. 1 hour for clerical administration may be applied for in the Straight Time (ST) column.

# Labor time for labor operation V8621 includes time for replacement of valve stem and wheel balancing.

Parts Allowance: The "Net Amount" should represent the retailer cost plus 30% for wheel(s), balance weights and valve stem(s) used in conjunction with labor operation V8621,

Dear Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Owner:

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

REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL: General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1988 through 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme model vehicles equipped with 14 inch steel wheels. These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface and, should the cracks become severe enough, the wheel could completely separate from the vehicle. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, steering and braking control of the vehicle could be affected, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.

WHAT WE WILL DO: To prevent the possibility of this condition from occurring, retailers are to inspect the manufacturing date codes stamped on each wheel to determine if the wheels were produced during a suspect period. Whenever a wheel falls within the specified date code range, retailers are to replace that wheel assembly.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Please contact your Oldsmobile retailer immediately to arrange a service date. Instructions have been sent to your retailer. It is estimated that parts will be available t6 your retailer on May 9, 1994. Please ask your retailer if you wish an estimate of the total time needed to schedule, process and return your vehicle. Included in this time would be about fifty (50) minutes for a technician to perform the work required.

You may have your vehicle serviced at the authorized Oldsmobile retailer of your choice. Your Oldsmobile retailer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service to promptly correct your vehicle. However, if you take your vehicle to your retailer on the agreed service date, and they do not remedy this condition then or within five days, we suggest you call Oldsmobile Customer Assistance (1-800-442-6537). Deaf, hearing impaired, or speech impaired persons with telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDD/TTY) may contact Oldsmobile Customer Assistance at 1-800-TDD-OLDS (1-800-833-6537). They will assist you and the retailer in getting your vehicle corrected.

After contacting your retailer and Oldsmobile Customer Assistance, 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 write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call 800-424-9393 (Washington, D.C. residents call 366-0123).

OWNER REPLY CARD: The enclosed owner reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your retailer 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.

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action for your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

OLDSMOBILE 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.