The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH MIS-LOCATED WELDS AT THE JOINT BETWEEN THE LEFT ROCKER PANEL INNER REINFORCEMENT AND THE BODY SIDE RING. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 214, "SIDE DOOR STRENGTH."
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SHEET METAL STRUCTURE WOULD NOT PERFORM AS DESIRED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WELDS AND, IF NECESSARY, PLACE FIVE WELDS BETWEEN THE INVOLVED PANELS AND APPLY PRIMER AND TOPCOAT FINISH MATERIALS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Cavalier | 1997 |
| Pontiac Sunfire | 1997 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY
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 | 1997 | 540 | 7 |
| Pontiac Sunfire | 1997 | 190 | 6 |
Other structure recalls in 1998
17 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the structure; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 98V330000 23 Dec 1998 | LES ENTERPRISES M.CORBEIL |
| 98V327000 18 Dec 1998 | SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. |
| 98V323000 16 Dec 1998 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 98V301000 1 Dec 1998 | AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. |
| 98V280000 5 Nov 1998 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 98V271000 27 Oct 1998 | JAGUAR CARS |
| 98V208000 8 Sept 1998 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 98V200000 28 Aug 1998 | AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998