Recall - Windshield Wiper Motor failure: Overview
File In Section: Product RecallsBulletin No.: 03023
Date: May, 2003
PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL
SUBJECT:
03023 - WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURE
MODELS:
1994 CHEVROLET CK PICKUP, TAHOE 4WD, SUBURBAN 2WD
1995 CHEVROLET CK PICKUP, CK CREW CAB 4WD, TAHOE 4WD, SUBURBAN, ASTRO VAN
1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER, S10, CK PICKUP, CK CREW CAB, TAHOE, SUBURBAN, ASTRO VAN,
1997 CHEVROLET S10 2WD, CK CREW CAB, SUBURBAN 4WD, ASTRO VAN
1994 GMC SIERRA PICKUP, YUKON 4WD, SUBURBAN 2WD
1995 GMC SIERRA PICKUP, SIERRA CREW CAB 4WD, YUKON 4WD, SUBURBAN, SAFARI VAN
1996 GMC SONOMA, JIMMY, SIERRA PICKUP, SIERRA CREW CAB, YUKON, SUBURBAN, SAFARI VAN
1997 GMC SONOMA 2WD, SIERRA CREW CAB, SUBURBAN 4WD, SAFARI VAN
1996 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA
This recall bulletin, minus your assigned VIN listing, is being sent to you at this time in order to take care of those customers who bring their vehicle in for a malfunctioning windshield wiper motor prior to their notification of this recall.
GM plans to begin notifying owners of this recall in late June 2003. That is when parts are expected to be available in sufficient quantities to support this recall. A VIN listing will be sent to dealers at that time.
In the meantime, should an owner bring in one of the vehicles listed above because the windshield wiper system exhibits the conditions described in the "Condition" paragraph contained in this bulletin, check the VIN in GMVIS to determine vehicle eligibility. If the vehicle is eligible, perform service correction and submit the claim as instructed in this bulletin.
CONDITION
General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 1994 Chevrolet CK Pickup, Tahoe, Suburban; 1995 Chevrolet CK Pickup, CK Crew Cab, Tahoe, Suburban, Astro Van; 1996 Chevrolet Blazer, S10 Pickup, CK Pickup, CK Crew Cab. Tahoe, Suburban, Astro Van; 1997 Chevrolet S10 Pickup, CK Crew Cab, Suburban 4WD, Astro Van; 1994 GMC Sierra Pickup, Yukon, Suburban; 1995 GMC Sierra Pickup, Sierra Crew Cab, Yukon, Suburban. Safari Van; 1996 GMC Sonoma, Jimmy, Sierra Pickup, Sierra Crew Cab, Yukon, Suburban, Safari Van; 1997 GMC Sonoma, Sierra Crew Cab, Suburban 4WD, Safari Van; 1996 Oldsmobile Bravada vehicles. These vehicles may have a condition in which the windshield wiper motor may fail. These failures are the result of cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board near the wiring harness connector. Depending on which solder joints crack or the severity of the crack, the windshield wipers could work intermittently or not at all. If this were to occur in a severe weather situation, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a vehicle crash without prior warning.
CORRECTION
Dealers are to replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1994 Chevrolet CK Pickup, Tahoe 4WD, Suburban 2WD; 1995 Chevrolet CK Pickup, CK Crew Cab 4WD, Tahoe 4WD, Suburban, Astro Van; 1996 Chevrolet Blazer, S10, CK Pickup, CK Crew Cab, Tahoe, Suburban, Astro Van; 1997 Chevrolet S10, 2WD, CK Crew Cab, Suburban 4WD, Astro Van; 1994 GMC Sierra Pickup, Yukon 4WD, Suburban 2WD; 1995 GMC Sierra Pickup, Sierra Crew Cab 4WD, Yukon 4WD, Suburban, Safari Van; 1996 GMC Sonoma, Jimmy, Sierra Pickup, Sierra Crew Cab, Yukon, Suburban, Safari Van; 1997 GMC Sonoma 2WD, Sierra Crew Cab, Suburban 4WD, Safari Van; 1996 Oldsmobile Bravada vehicles 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.]
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 recall bulletin. 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 listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this recall.
PARTS INFORMATION
Parts required to complete this recall 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.
RECALL IDENTIFICATION LABEL
Place a Recall Identification Label on each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Recall Bulletin Each label provides a space to include the recall number and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the recall service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ballpoint pen.
Put the Recall Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. When installing the Recall Identification Label, be sure to pull the tab to allow adhesion of the clear protective covering. Additional Recall Identification Labels can be obtained from Dealer Support Materials by either ordering on the web from DWD Store.
CUSTOMER REIMBURSEMENT
All customer requests for reimbursement for previous repairs for the recall condition will be handled by the Customer Assistance Center, not by dealers.
A General Motors Product Recall Customer Reimbursement Procedure Form is included with the original customer letter.
IMPORTANT:
Refer to the GM Service Policies and Procedures Manual, section 61.12, for specific procedures regarding customer reimbursement and the form.
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
Customers will be notified of this recall on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of customer letter shown in this bulletin).
DEALER RECALL RESPONSIBILITY
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.
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. This could be done by mailing to such customers, a copy of the customer letter shown in this bulletin. 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.
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