NHTSA Campaign 03V328000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
NHTSA campaign 03V328000 covers 2 year-make-model versions listed here and concerns the suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint. The repair is free.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP filed the report for 03V328000 with NHTSA on September 12, 2003; the manufacturer initiated the recall.
For 03V328000, NHTSA lists up to 41,477 potentially affected vehicles, built between March 1, 2002 and June 30, 2003.
The 03V328000 report reached NHTSA 2 months after the last affected vehicle was built.
Owner notification letters for 03V328000 were scheduled from April 8, 2004, 209 days after the report.
03V328000 covers 2 models from Chevrolet and GMC, model years 2003.
Owners of the model years 03V328000 covers have filed at least 8 complaints naming the suspension, about this defect or others in the same group.
Among the 03V328000 vehicles, the 2003 Chevrolet Astro has the most (8).
By potentially affected vehicles, 03V328000 ranks 97 of 253 GENERAL MOTORS CORP recalls on this site.
Besides 03V328000, GENERAL MOTORS CORP has 8 other recalls on the suspension on this site; the one before 03V328000 was 02V202000, reported on July 26, 2002.
What this recall covers
- The defect
- CERTAIN MINIVANS HAVE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION BETWEEN THE LOWER BALL JOINT RUBBER BOOT AND THE STEERING KNUCKLE (BOTH LEFT/RIGHT SIDES), WHICH COULD RESULT IN CUTTING OF THE BOOT THAT IS INTENDED TO SEAL THE BALL JOINT. IF THE LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT WERE CUT, CONTAMINATION FROM THE ROAD (SALT, DIRT, WATER, ETC.) COULD ENTER THE BALL SOCKET AREA OF THE BALL JOINT CAUSING THE JOINT TO WEAR OUT TOO QUICKLY.
- The risk
- THE STEERING KNUCKLE COULD SEPARATE FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, DROPPING DOWN THE AFFECTED CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE COIL SPRING WOULD PUSH THE CONTROL ARM DOWN INTO CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, CREATING A DRAG THAT WOULD SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE AFFECTED WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE IF FORCES RESULTING FROM THE WHEEL'S DRAGGING ACTION WERE SUFFICIENT TO FRACTURE THE TIE ROD END AND UPPER BALL JOINT CONNECTIONS. SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WOULD ALSO SEVER THAT WHEEL'S HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE, RESULTING IN LOST BRAKING PERFORMANCE FROM THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE WOULD INCREASE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
- The fix
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 8, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
- Notes
- GM RECALL NO. 03044.
Reported September 12, 2003
Vehicles covered by 03V328000 (2)
Chevrolet (1)
GMC (1)
Being on this list means your year, make and model fall inside campaign 03V328000, not that your own vehicle does: a campaign covers a range of VINs. A VIN check on NHTSA's lookup shows whether it is.
Newest record on this page: September 12, 2003. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted