RoadVitals

NHTSA safety recall

Recall 96V018000: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

GENERAL MOTORS CORP. · Reported to NHTSA Jan 30, 1996

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
Units potentially affectedThe manufacturer's own estimate of how many vehicles or items of equipment may contain the defect. It is not a count of failures, and not every unit in the range is necessarily affected.
102,403
Model years coveredModel years in our database that NHTSA matched to this campaign. Whether an individual vehicle is covered still depends on its VIN.
4
Models covered
2
Grouped from the model years above
Reported to NHTSA
Jan 30, 1996
Production Apr 1, 1994 – Sep 1, 1995

What this recall covers

NHTSA's campaign record, quoted as published

The defect

DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND CAN LOOSEN.

The risk

THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN LOOSEN, FATIGUE, AND SEPARATE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION KNUCKLE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

The remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS FOR PROPER TORQUE. IF THE BALL JOINT HAS LOOSENED, BOTH THE BALL JOINT AND THE KNUCKLE WILL BE REPLACED.

Notes

SYSTEM: SUSPENSION; INDEPENDENT FRONT CONTROL ARM; LOWER; BALL JOINT. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: POLICE VEHICLES, TAXI CABS, HEARSE AND LIMOUSINE. NOTE: OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020; BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300; OR CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

A safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.

Campaign details

Identifiers and dates as filed with NHTSA

Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Manufacturer's campaign number
Not recorded
NHTSA campaign number
96V018000
Units potentially affected
102,403
Report received
Jan 30, 1996
Production range
Apr 1, 1994 – Sep 1, 1995
Campaign type
Vehicle
Federal safety standard (FMVSS)
Not recorded

Vehicles covered

4 model years across 2 models

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.