Recall - Platform Type Trailer Hitch Mater
Number: 83C11
Section: XIV
Date: September, 1983
Subject: PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 83C11 PLATFORM TYPE TRAILER HITCH MATERIAL IMPROPER 1983 CHEVROLET G20-30 SERIES VANS EQUIPPED WITH RPO VR4 (SCARBOROUGH ONLY)
TO: ALL INVOLVED CHEVROLET DEALERS
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 an appointment with each owner and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the letter which is being sent to owners, the owners are being instructed to contact the nearest Chevrolet Zone Office if their 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 on 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 on some 1983 Chevrolet G20-30 Series Vans equipped with platform-type trailer hitches (RPO VR4).
The platform trailer hitches on these vehicles may have been produced from laminated steel. Depending on the location of the lamination, the hitch could have less than adequate load capability. Should this condition exist, the trailer hitch torsion bar may break. If this occurs while a trailer is being pulled, the hitch and trailer could separate and a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.
To correct this condition the hitch platform assembly will be replaced.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1983 Chevrolet G20-30 Series Vans equipped with RPO VR4 weight distribution type hitches. Vehicles involved were built within the following breakpoints:
Plant From Through
Scarborough D4123370 D4126708
Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. Computer listings contain the complete Vehicle Identification Number, owner name and address data, and are furnished to the involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Owner name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with owners involved in this campaign.
These listings 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 the follow-up necessary to complete this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin was not shipped any involved vehicles.
OWNER NOTIFICATION
Owners will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by Chevrolet Motor Division (see copy of Owner Letter included with this 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 vehicles 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.
PARTS INFORMATION
Upon dealer request, Reese Products will provide Chevrolet Dealers with new trailer hitch platform assemblies (GM P/N 14021513) on a direct ship basis from Elkhart, Indiana. Dealers may order these assemblies from:
PARTS INFORMATION (CONT'D)
Randy Hoover Reese Products (219) 264-7564
Parts are not to be ordered from or returned to the Warehouse Distribution Division of General Motors (WDDGM).
PARTS RETURN
The trailer hitch platform assemblies removed from the involved vehicles are to be returned freight collect to:
Mr. R. Hoover Reese Products 51671 St. Rd. 19-N Elkhart, Indiana 46515
Removed platform assemblies are to be properly tagged and identified as follows: Vehicle Identification Number, Repair Order Number, Mileage, Complete Dealer Name and Address and Campaign Number 83C11. If the old hitch assembly is not returned after the new assembly is installed, the dealer will be charged for the new assembly.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
1. Raise floor jack under platform assembly to support hitch while bolts are being removed.
2. Remove bumper bolts (2).
3. Remove mounting nuts (2).
4.. Remove one bolt from each side.
5. Remove two (2) remaining bolts while platform assembly is steadied by an additional person.
6. Using the floor jack, gently lower the platform assembly.
7. Position the new platform assembly on the floor jack.
8. Raise floor jack to support new platform assembly while it is being installed.
9. Reverse removal procedure.
FIGURE 1 - Platform Assembly:
10. Fasteners are to be torqued to the values specified in Figure 1.
11. Raise hood and install campaign label.
CLAIM INFORMATION
Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:
Parts Failed Parts Failure Labor Labor *Other Net
Count Part No. Allowance Code Operation Hours Hours Amount
15 8311 31.00 00 V1780 1.0 .1
Description: Replace trailer hitch in accordance with the parts and service instructions outlined in this bulletin.
*Campaign Administrative Allowance
Dealers will automatically receive the correct labor and material allowance based on the labor operation performed. The $31.00 identified in the "Parts Allowance Column" represents 30% of dealer net when parts are furnished at no charge by Chevrolet.
Refer to the Chevrolet Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim submission.
Campaign Identification Label:
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 digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or ballpoint 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
REFER TO THE CURRENT CHEVROLET SERVICE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL AND CLAIMS PROCESSING MANUAL FOR CAMPAIGN HANDLING AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.