The defect
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD WIPING AND WASHING SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) CONTROL KNOBS THAT MAY FRACTURE AND SPIN ON THE CONTROL SHAFT. THE DRIVER MAY NO LONGER BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE HEATING, COOLING, AND VENTILATION FOR THE VEHICLE.
The risk
IF THIS CONDITION AFFECTS THE DEFROST SYSTEM WHEN IT IS REQUIRED, IT MAY DECREASE THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL HVAC CONTROL KNOBS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Express | 2009, 2010 |
| GMC Sanana | 2010 |
| GMC Savana | 2009 |
Components: VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
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 | 2009 | 10 | 7 |
| Chevrolet Express | 2010 | 15 | 5 |
| GMC Sanana | 2010 | 0 | 1 |
| GMC Savana | 2009 | 2 | 8 |
Other visibility recalls in 2010
25 of the 647 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2010 concerned the visibility; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 10V625000 13 Dec 2010 | SETRA OF NORTH AMERICA |
| 10V614000 10 Dec 2010 | S&C AUTOMOTIVE |
| 10V602000 3 Dec 2010 | PRECISION AUTO UPHOLSTERY, INC. |
| 10V603000 1 Dec 2010 | VAN HOOL N.V. |
| 10V578000 12 Nov 2010 | JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
| 10V547000 5 Nov 2010 | ATTENTION TO DETAIL, INC. |
| 10V543000 5 Nov 2010 | DON'S AUTO UPHOLSTERY |
| 10V546000 5 Nov 2010 | AUTO ADDITIONS, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2010