The defect
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH LOWER THAN SPECIFIED TORQUE ON BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPER TO STEERING KNUCKLE ATTACHMENT BOLTS. WITH IMPROPER TORQUE, THE CLAMP LOAD AT THE JOINT MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE TO PREVENT MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE CALIPER BRACKET AND KNUCKLE.
The risk
DEPENDING ON WHETHER ONE OR BOTH BOLTS BACKS OUT OR FRACTURES, THE RESULT CAN BE LOCKING OF THE AFFECTED WHEEL DURING BRAKING AND AN ABRUPT STEERING INPUT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LOCKED WHEEL, REDUCED BRAKING AND NOISE FROM THE AFFECTED WHEEL, OR SEVERING OF A BRAKE HOSE, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, AND REDUCED STEERING CONTROL. REDUCED BRAKING OR STEERING CONTROL COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS ARE TO TIGHTEN BOTH BOLTS TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC 1-800-620-7668.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Impala | 2004 |
| Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 2004 |
| Pontiac Grand Prix | 2004 |
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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 Impala | 2004 | 1,073 | 4 |
| Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 2004 | 230 | 4 |
| Pontiac Grand Prix | 2004 | 454 | 7 |
Other service brakes, hydraulic recalls in 2004
54 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the service brakes, hydraulic; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 04V591000 15 Dec 2004 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 04V585000 8 Dec 2004 | DUCATI NORTH AMERICA |
| 04V573000 6 Dec 2004 | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY |
| 04V576000 6 Dec 2004 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
| 04V565000 23 Nov 2004 | FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL |
| 04V552000 18 Nov 2004 | JAYCO, INC. |
| 04V539000 9 Nov 2004 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
| 04V525000 3 Nov 2004 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004