The defect
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR LAMPS THAT PROVIDE STOP AND TURN SIGNALS AND TAIL LAMP FUNCTIONS STOP WORKING BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET. IN ADDITION, IF ONE BULBS WERE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING IN CRUISE CONTROL, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DISENGAGE WHEN THE REMAINING BULB WAS ACTIVATED. IF BOTH LAMPS WERE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE.
The risk
AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES AND APPLY GREASE OR REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Cavalier | 2003 |
| Pontiac Sunfire | 2003 |
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
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 Cavalier | 2003 | 678 | 1 |
| Pontiac Sunfire | 2003 | 72 | 1 |
Other exterior lighting recalls in 2004
24 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the exterior lighting; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 04V584000 16 Dec 2004 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
| 04V572000 7 Dec 2004 | HACKNEY |
| 04V566000 29 Nov 2004 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V560000 22 Nov 2004 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 04V558000 22 Nov 2004 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V547000 16 Nov 2004 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 04V527000 1 Nov 2004 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 04V504000 21 Oct 2004 | VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004