CAMPAIGN: STEERING LINKAGE LOOSE TIE ROD/RELAY ROD NUTS. GMC Truck S15 Pickup - 2WD 1987

For 1990-2009 cars

# CAMPAIGN: STEERING LINKAGE LOOSE TIE ROD/RELAY ROD NUTS

#### MODELS: 1987 S15 ASSEMBLED AT THE MORAINE TRUCK ASSEMBLY

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, provides that each vehicle which is 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 adequately repair within 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 appointments with owners and to repair their vehicles as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the letter which is being sent to owners, the owner is being instructed to contact the nearest GMC Zone Office if the dealer does not remedy the condition within five days of the mutually agreed upon service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, they are instructed 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 1987 S15 light duty model trucks. The inner tie rod to relay rod nuts on the steering linkage may have been improperly torqued and not crimped. A loss of one or both of these nuts could lead to the inner tie rod disengaging from the relay rod, resulting in a possible loss of steering control which could lead to a vehicle crash without prior warning.

To prevent this condition from occurring, it will be necessary to replace the steering linkage assembly.

To prevent this condition from occurring, it will be necessary to replace the steering linkage assembly.

#### VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are certain 1987 GMC S15 light duty trucks assembled at Moraine Assembly. There are thirteen 1987 S15 trucks involved. VINs and invoice dealers (codes) are listed below:

DEALER CODE VIN NUMBER ----------- ---------- 06-188 1GTCS14R9H2514693 10-266 1GTCS14R6H2514697 10-312 1GTCS14R5H2514691 10-487 1GTCS14R6H2514683 21-106 1GTBS14E3H2514679 21-121 1GTCS14R5H2514688 30-639 1GTBS14E3H2514682 30-641 1GTCS14R4H2514696 30-641 1GTCS14R2H2514695 30-641 1GTBS14R0H2514710 30-852 1GTBS14E0H2514686 44-614 1GTBS14E8H2514709 53-317 1GTCS14R5H2514707

The specific vehicles involved in this campaign have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. These listings are furnished to all involved dealers with the campaign bulletin.

#### DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

Dealers 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.

Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used vehicle inventory, or it is in your dealership for service in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.

Owners of vehicies recently sold from your new vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the dealer and arrangements made to make the required modification according to instructions contained in this bulletin.

If no owner's name and address were available to GMC Truck at the time of campaign initiation, the dealer will determine the owner's name and address from the dealership sales records. Please provide this informadon directly on the second copy of the listing next to the applicable VIN so that our records may be updated and the appropriate notification mailed to the owner. This second copy should then be submitted to the address listed below in the previously supplied yellow campaign envelopes.

GMC Truck General Motors Corporation 101 Union Street Plymouth, Michigan 48170

#### OWNER NOTIFICATION

Owners will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by GMC Truck (see copy of Owner Letter included with this bulletin). A listing of owner names and addresses has been furnished to the involved dealers to enable dealers to follow up with owners involved in this campaign. This listing 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 this campaign.

#### SERVICE PROCEDURE

Remove the steering linkage assembly on the vehicle and replace it with the new steering linkage assembly which has been shipped to involved dealers.

Follow service procedure outlined in the 1987 GMC Light Duty Truck S and T Models Service Manual X-8729, Section 3B1. Follow necessary torque values as listed in the service manual.

Toe-in adjustment will be required after the new steering linkage has been installed (Section 3A).

#### PARTS INFORMATION

Steering assemblies have been shipped to involved dealers on an as required basis at no charge. Do not order parts from GMSPO. Any questions regarding parts availability should be directed to your Zone Service department.

#### WARRANTY INFORMATION

Dealers should submit a warranty claim for each vehicle completed under this campaign.

Labor Operation **Parts *Time Trouble Number Description Allowance Allowance Code --------- ----------- --------- --------- ------- V3870 Replace steering $8.76 1.0 hr 96 linkage according to service procedure and set toe-in adjustment

* For dealer to receive Administrative Time Allowance associated with this campaign, add 0.1 hours to the Labor Operation Time Allowance.

** The $8.76 amount identified in the "Parts Allowance" column represents 30 pereent of dealer net for parts that were furnished by GMC Truck. This amount is to be placed in the Net Item Amount column of the claim and use type Code "M".

#### CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Each vehicle modified in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin will require a "Campaign Identification Label". Each label provides a space to include the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or ball point pen.

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 "Campaign Identification Label" only on a clean dry surface.

#### ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE

Procedures covering this campaign are outlined in Section V of your dealership's "GMC Truck Claims Processing Manual" #SD8519.

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Dear GMC Truck Owner:

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

General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1987 S15 trucks. The inner tie rod to relay rod nuts on the steering linkage may have been improperley torqued and not crimped. A loss of one or both of these nuts could lead to the inner tie rod disengaging from the relay rod, resulting in a possible loss of steering control which could lead to a vehicle crash without prior warning.

To prevent this condition from occurring, it will be necessary to replace the steering linkage assembly. This service will be completed for you at no charge.

Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your GMC Truck dealer. It is estimated that parts will be available March 2, 1987. The labor time necessary to correct your vehicle is one hour. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to process your vehicle.

Your GMC Truck dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service to ensure your vehicle is corrected as promptly as possible. However, if you take your vehicle to your dealer on the agreed service date, and they do not remedy this condition on that date or within five days, we recommend you contact the nearest GMC Truck zone office, either in person or by telephone. The zone office will assist you and the dealer in getting your vehicle corrected. The locations and telephone numbers of the zone offices are listed in your owner's manual.

After contacting your dealer and the zone office, 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 wish to write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call 800-424-9393 (Washington, D.C. residents use 426-0123).

The enclosed owner reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer 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 owner reply card and returning it to us.

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

GMC TRUCK 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.