The defect
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS HAVE GALVANIZED-BRAIDED-STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES USED TO SUPPORT THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION. OVER TIME THESE CABLES CAN CORRODE AND FRACTURE WHEN LOADS ARE APPLIED TO THEM.
The risk
IF ONE CABLE FRACTURES, THE REMAINING CABLE MAY RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURE, THE TAILGATE WOULD DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER. IF ANYONE IS SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THEY COULD FALL AND BE INJURED. ON VEHICLES WITHOUT A BUMPER, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP TO A LOWER POSITION.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GALVANIZED SUPPORT CABLES WITH STAINLESS STEEL SUPPORT CABLES. IN ADDITION, DEALERS ARE TO INSPECT THE TAILGATE HINGE AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado | 1999, 2000 |
| GMC Sierra | 1999, 2000 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
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 Silverado | 1999 | 1,660 | 5 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | 2000 | 1,305 | 8 |
| GMC Sierra | 1999 | 600 | 5 |
| GMC Sierra | 2000 | 443 | 8 |
Other structure recalls in 2006
25 of the 490 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2006 concerned the structure; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 06V489000 21 Dec 2006 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
| 06V483000 15 Dec 2006 | HINO MOTORS SALES U.S.A., INC. |
| 06V468000 4 Dec 2006 | THOR CALIFORNIA INC. |
| 06V466000 4 Dec 2006 | THOR CALIFORNIA INC. |
| 06V433000 15 Nov 2006 | EARTHROAMER, LLC |
| 06V431000 15 Nov 2006 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 06V415000 27 Oct 2006 | ELGIN SWEEPER COMPANY |
| 06V406000 25 Oct 2006 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2006