Product Safety - Intermediate Steering Shaft to Steering Gear Bolt

THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO INCLUDE TOWING OF THE CUSTOMER'S VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR.

PLEASE DISCARD ALL COPIES OF BULLETIN 05010, ISSUED JANUARY 2005.

GENERAL MOTOS IS CONTACTING CUSTOMERS OF INVOLVED VEHICLES VIA TELEPHONE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING INSTRUCTED TO CALL THEIR SERVICING DEALER TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLE TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIPS ARE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AND ARE TO PROVIDE THE CUSTOMER WITH COURTESY TRANSPORTATION UNTIL THE RECALL CAN BE PERFORMED ON THEIR VEHICLE.

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2005 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles. The bolt that attaches the intermediate shaft to the steering gear may not meet specification. The bolt may fracture, resulting in the loss of steering. If this happens while the vehicle is moving, a crash could occur without prior warning.

Dealers are to replace the intermediate steering shaft to steering gear bolt. Dealers are to contact customers of delivered vehicles to make arrangements to have their vehicle towed to the dealership for repair.

Involved are certain 2005 model year Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints:

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.]

For US

For dealers with involved vehicles, a Campaign Initiation Detail Report containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data has been prepared and will be loaded to the GM DealerWorld, Recall Information website. Dealers that have no involved vehicles currently assigned will not have a report available in GM DealerWorld.

For Canada

For dealers with involved vehicles, a Campaign Initiation Detail Report containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data has been prepared and is being furnished to involved dealers. Dealers that have no involved vehicles currently assigned will not receive a report with the recall bulletin.

For Export

For dealers with involved vehicles, a Campaign Initiation Detail Report containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data has been prepared and is being furnished to involved dealers. Dealers that have no involved vehicles currently assigned will not receive a report with the recall bulletin.

The Campaign Initiation Detail Report may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose other than follow-up necessary to complete this recall 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 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.

Tools Required

J 42640 Steering Column Anti-Rotation Pin

Notice: The wheels of the vehicle must be straight-ahead and the steering column in the LOCK position before disconnecting the steering column or intermediate shaft from the steering gear. Failure to do so will cause the SIR coil assembly to become uncentered, which may cause damage to the coil assembly.

1. Set the front wheels in the straight-ahead position.



2. Install J 42640 in the steering column lower access hole.
3. For vehicles equipped with a 6.6L diesel engine, remove the left charge air cooler hose.
4. Remove the bolt from the lower shaft coupler.
5. Install the new bolt to the lower shaft coupler.

Tighten
Tighten the coupler pinch bolt to 47 N·m (35 lb ft).

6. For vehicles equipped with a 6.6L diesel engine, install the left charge air cooler hose.
7. Remove J 42640 from the steering column lower access hole.

Dealers are to provide customers with shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation while their vehicle is at the dealership for this repair.

Submit a Product Recall Claim with the information indicated below:

Note: Canadian dealers should refer to the Canadian distribution of the bulletin for detailed claim information.

Refer to the General Motors WINS Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Recall Claim Submission.

General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

Letters will be sent to known owners of record located within areas covered by the US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. For owners outside these areas, dealers should notify customers using the attached sample letter.

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle which 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. A copy of the customer letter is provided in this bulletin for your use in contacting customers. 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, please take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

Dear General Motors Customer:

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

Important: You may have already been contacted regarding this recall by your GM dealer or by the GM Customer Assistance Center, but this letter is to inform you to contact your GM dealer immediately. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE.

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2005 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles. The bolt that attaches the intermediate shaft to the steering gear may not meet specification. The bolt may fracture, resulting in the loss of steering. If this happens while the vehicle is moving, a crash could occur without prior warning.

Your GM dealer will replace the intermediate steering shaft bolt. This service will be performed for you at no charge .

Contact your GM dealer as soon as possible to arrange to have your vehicle towed to the dealership. Do not drive your vehicle to the dealership.

Should your dealer be unable to schedule a service date within a reasonable time, you should contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the number listed below. The Customer Assistance Center hours of operation are from 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM, EST, Monday through Friday.

If, after contacting the appropriate customer assistance center, 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 SW, Washington, DC 20590 or call 1-888-327-4236.

This service correction will take approximately 15-20 minutes. However, due to service scheduling requirements, your dealer may need your vehicle for a longer period of time.

The enclosed customer reply form identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this form to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction in the shortest possible time. If you no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by completing the form and mailing it back to us.

Your dealer will provide you with shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation while your vehicle is at the dealership for this repair.

This free online service offers vehicle and ownership-related information and tools tailored to your specific vehicle. To join, visit www.mygmlink.com and enter your vehicle's 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) shown on the enclosed customer reply form to get the most personalized information for your vehicle.

Federal regulation requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days.

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.

General Motors Corporation

Enclosure

05010