The defect
CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 11,000 LB. REAR AXLE HAVE A CONDITION WHERE THE REAR AXLE ANCHOR PLATE MAY FRACTURE. AS THE ANCHOR PLATE FRACTURES, THERE IS AN AUDIBLE "BANG." IF THIS INDICATION OF A CONDITION REQUIRING THE DRIVER'S ATTENTION WENT UNNOTICED OR WAS IGNORED, AND UNDER CERTAIN REBOUND, BRAKING, OR CORNERING MANEUVERS, THE REAR AXLE WOULD BE FREE TO MOVE FORE AND AFT AND PROVIDE UNEXPECTED STEERING INPUTS TO THE VEHICLE.
The risk
IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, A CRASH COULD RESULT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE ANCHOR PLATE AND SPACER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 16, 2002. 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 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet C4500 | 2003 |
| GMC C4500 | 2003 |
Components: SUSPENSION:REAR
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet C4500 | 2003 | 5 | 1 |
| GMC C4500 | 2003 | 6 | 1 |
Other suspension recalls in 2002
21 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the suspension; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 02V341000 20 Dec 2002 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 02V332000 12 Dec 2002 | NORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES |
| 02V320000 2 Dec 2002 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 02V317000 25 Nov 2002 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC |
| 02V299000 12 Nov 2002 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 02V219000 12 Aug 2002 | COUNTRY COACH INC |
| 02V209000 1 Aug 2002 | ELECTRIC TRANSIT, INC. |
| 02V172000 12 Jul 2002 | MASTERCRAFT BOAT COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002