The defect
CERTAIN VANS HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH WATER MAY ENTER AND CORRODE THE REAR LICENSE PLATE LAMP SOCKET. IF THE LAMP SOCKET WERE TO CORRODE, THE REAR LICENSE PLATE LAMP MAY OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL, AND THE LEFT REAR TAIL LAMP MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE TEMPERATURE OF THE LICENSE PLATE LAMP SOCKET COULD INCREASE TO THE POINT THAT IT MAY BEGIN TO SOFTEN AND MELT.
The risk
IF THE SOCKET ASSEMBLY WERE TO REACH THE POINT OF MELTING, THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE MAY NOTICE AN ODOR AND SMOKE AT THE REAR DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. IF THIS ODOR AND SMOKE WERE IGNORED, THE PLASTIC COULD IGNITE AND A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW SEALED REAR LICENSE PLATE LAMP SOCKET ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 21, 2003. OWNERS 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 Express | 2003 |
| GMC Savana | 2003 |
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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 Express | 2003 | 59 | 10 |
| GMC Savana | 2003 | 22 | 11 |
Other exterior lighting recalls in 2003
18 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the exterior lighting; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 03V509000 4 Dec 2003 | JAGUAR CARS LTD |
| 03V485000 25 Nov 2003 | BENSON INTERNATIONAL, INC. |
| 03V388000 10 Oct 2003 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 03V327000 28 Aug 2003 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 03V265000 25 Jul 2003 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 03V262000 22 Jul 2003 | HACKNEY |
| 03V258000 22 Jul 2003 | INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY |
| 03V206000 5 Jun 2003 | MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003