CAMPAIGN: STEERING WHEEL FRACTURE. Geo Tracker - 4WD 1995

For 1990-2009 cars

# CAMPAIGN: STEERING WHEEL FRACTURE

#### SUBJECT: STEERING WHEEL FRACTURE -----------------------

#### Models: 1995 Geo Tracker and Pontiac Sunrunner --------------------------------------

#### TO: ALL GENERAL MOTORS DEALERS

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General Motors of Canada Limited has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in CERTAIN 1995 Geo Tracker and Pontiac Sunrunner model vehicles. These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the steering wheel centre 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 the following 37 1995 Geo Tracker and Pontiac Sunrunner model vehicles:

VIN VIN VIN --- --- ---

2CGBJ1863S6910971 2CNBJ1867S6910108 2CNBJ1868S6911669 2CGBJ186XS6911227 2CNBJ1869S6910353 2CNBJ1864S6911684 2CGBJI868S6911419 2CNBJ1868S6910702 2CNBJ1865S6911841 2CGBJ186XS6911521 2CNBJ1863S6911014 2CNBJ1869S6911860 2CGBJ1868S6911548 2CNBJ1868S6911025 2CNBJ1862S6911862 2CGBJ1865S6911622 2CNBJ1868S6911073 2CNBJ186IS6911870 2CGBJ1867S6911654 2CNBJ1863S6911093 2CNBJ1863S6911918 2CGBJ1864S6911675 2CNBJ1869S6911261 2CNBJ186OS6911939 2CGBJ1866S6911712 2CNBJ1863S6911465 2CNBJ1866S6911976 2CGBJ1864S6911949 2CNBJ1864S6911510 2CNBJ186XS6911978 2CGBJ1869S6912045 2CNBJ1866S6911573 2CNBJ1862S6911988 2CGBJ1866S6912052 2CNBJ1864S6911636 2CNBJ1865S6911998 2CNBJ186IS6912016

#### NOTE: PLEASE CHECK DCS SCREEN 445 OR YOUR V.I.N. LISTING BEFORE PERFORMING CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE THAT THE VEIHCLE IS AFFECTED. ONLY AFFECTED VIN'S WILL BE PAID.

All affected vehicles have been identified by the VIN listing provided to involved dealers with this bulletin. Any dealer not receiving a listing was not shipped any of the affected vehicles.

#### DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY:

All unsold new vehicles in dealer's 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.

Dealers are to perform this campaign on all involved vehicles at no charge to owners, regardless of kilometres travelled, 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 dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer, 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 letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the owner may not 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 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.

#### CAMPAIGN PROCEDURE:

Refer to Section 4 of the Service Policies and Procedures Manual for the detailed procedure on handling Product Campaigns. Dealers are requested to complete the campaign on all transfers as soon as possible.

#### OWNER NOTIFICATION:

All owners of record at the time of campaign release are shown on the attached computer listing and have been notified by first class mail from General Motors (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin). Customers will be offered free towing and alternate means of transportation if required. SEE ENCLOSED OWNER LETTER FOR DETAILS. The listings provided are for campaign activity only and should not be used for any other purpose.

#### 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 0NLY 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 should be ordered through regular channels, as follows:

Part Number Description Quantity/Vehicle ---------- ------------ ----------------

12534773 Steering Wheel As Required

#### NOTICE: It is estimated that approximately 13 of the 37 involved vehicles will require steering wheel replacement. Please order your parts accordingly.

#### PARTS RETURN PROCEDURE:

Suspect parts with lot date code 4273 (or blank) must be returned prepaid to the following location:

CAMI AUTOMOTIVE 300 INGERSOLL STREET INGERSOLL, ONTARIO N5C 4A6 DOCK # 56 ATTN: STEVE BUTTERWORTH 519-425-3129 ext. 4803

Please provide a copy of the repair work order with the suspect steering wheel.

"DO NOT SHIP COLLECT. TRANSPORTATION COST CAN BE REIMBURSED UNDER REPAIR CODE 6A".

#### PARTS AND LABOUR CLAIM INFO

Credit for the campaign work performed will be paid upon receipt of a properly completed campaign claim card or DCS transmission in accordance with the following:

Repair Code Description Time Allowance ----------- ----------- ---------------

1A Inspect for suspect date code (or blank), 0.3 None found - DO NOT Replace

*6A Inspect for suspect date code, Replace 0.4 Steering Wheel

T2750 Towing Expense **

T2751 Loaner Car Rental Expense **

Time allowance includes 0. 1 hour for dealer administrative detail associated with this campaign. Parts credit should be based on dealer net plus appropriate model year parts handling allowance.

* Repair code 6A should include the amount representing the cost of returning the suspect wheel VIA UPS Ground Transportation.

** The total cost for towing and/or car rental is to be entered in the Warranty Claims Submission and as a net dollar amount.

#### SERVICE PROCEDURE:

1. Centre 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 on 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 Campaign Identification Label.

#### INSTALLATION OF CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Clean surface of radiator upper mounting panel and apply a Campaign Identification Label. Make sure the correct campaign number is inserted on the label. This will indicate that the campaign has been completed.

July 1996

Dear General Motors Customer:

General Motors of Canada Limited has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in CERTAIN 1995 Geo Tracker and Pontiac Sunrunner model vehicles. These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the steering wheel centre 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, your dealer will 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.

This service will be provided for you at no charge.

To minimize your inconvenience, GM and your GM 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.

Please contact your GM dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date.

This letter identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this letter to your dealer will assist their Service personnel in completing the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time.

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products.

Customer Support Department General Motors of Canada Limited

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.