Campaign - Front Suspension Clicking/Knocking Noise: Overview
CUSTOMER SATISFACTIONBulletin No.: 09203D
Date: November 30, 2009
Subject: 09203D - Front Suspension Clicking/Knocking
Models:
2008-2009 Pontiac G8
Supercede:
The expiration date for this Customer Satisfaction Program has been extended to December 31, 2009. Please discard all copies of bulletin 09203C, issued October 2009.
THIS PROGRAM IS IN EFFECT UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2009.
Condition
Certain 2008-2009 model year Pontiac G8 vehicles may have a condition in which the sealing boots on the front suspension lower control arm ball joints may not seal correctly in extreme cold temperatures. The material of the boot may become rigid in cold temperatures and could allow contaminants to enter the boot. This could cause premature wear of the ball joint, which could result in a clunking or rattling noise when the vehicle is driven over rough roads, wheels out of alignment, and/or premature tire wear.
Correction
Dealers are to repair the vehicle prior to the cold temperature season to prevent the possibility of the condition occurring.
Vehicles Involved
Involved are certain 2008-2009 model year Pontiac G8 vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints:
Important
Dealers are to confirm vehicle eligibility prior to beginning repairs by using GM Vehicle Inquiry System or the Investigate Vehicle History screen, whichever is applicable. Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.
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 through the GM GlobalConnect Recall Reports. 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 program 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 program.
Parts Information
In response to dealer feedback, we piloted a manual pre-ship process for this Field Action. SPO entered a DRO order on behalf of each Pontiac Dealer to ensure the parts were available at dealerships initially to address their stock (unsold) vehicles first. Dealers saw a DRO shipment for Ball Joint Seal Kit (a/k/a Boot Kit) part number 92245647 in a pre-determined quantity. All parts were expected to be utilized for repairs on dealer stock vehicles. A second pre-shipment of parts was sent to involved dealers in the same manner about a week later. That second pre-shipment of parts was to be used to service sold vehicles, as customers received their letters and called to make service appointments (U.S. only). Part quantities on the manual DRO pre-ship order were determined by actual vehicles assigned to each dealer, and were shipped from SPO's Lansing, MI PDC (for U.S. dealers); and from Edmonton and Woodstock (for Canadian dealers).
Courtesy Transportation - For 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.
Claim Information
1. Submit a claim using the table below.
2. Courtesy Transportation - For dealers using WINS, submit using normal labor code; for dealers using GWM - submit as Net Item under the repair labor code.
Customer Notification
General Motors will notify customers of this program on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).
Dealer Program Responsibility
All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this program must be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this program bulletin before customers take possession of these vehicles.
Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this program at no charge to customers, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, through December 31, 2009.
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. Program 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 program enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service through December 31, 2009, you must take the steps necessary to be sure the program correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.
Disclaimer