Chevrolet Recalls

On certain sport utility vehicles, during a 30 degree left angle frontal impact of sufficient severity, a tear could develop in the mid-frame cross member at its attachment to the left frame rail. If the mid-frame cross member tears during frontal impact and produces a sharp edge, contact of the sharp edge with the fuel tank could result in a puncture of the fuel tank and possible fuel leakage. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

On certain vans with a gross vehicle weight of less than 8,500 pounds, during a crash sufficient to deploy the safety belt pretensioner, the front safety belt buckles may not release after a crash, or may cause the buckle to unlatch in a crash, resulting in an increased risk of personal injury.

Some pickup and utility trucks have an internal component in the outboard seat belt retractors for the 2nd and 3rd row of seats that could be cracked. With repeated actuation of the locking mechanism, the crack could spread to the point such that the seat belt would no longer lock. In a crash, increased occupant injury could result from the no-lock condition.

Certain sport utility vehicles were built with a left-front brake pipe with a circumferential score at a random location along the length of the pipe as the result of the manufacturing process. If the brake pipe partially or fully fractured, brake pedal travel would immediately increase and front brake performance would be reduced, a crash could occur.

Certain passenger vans have a condition in which water may enter and corrode the rear license plate lamp socket. If the lamp socket were to corrode, the rear license plate lamp may operate intermittently or not at all, and the left rear tail lamp may become inoperative. The temperature of the license plate lamp socket could increase to the point that it may begin to soften and melt. Eventually, the plastic could ignite and a fire could occur.

Certain minivans, passenger cars, and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage System." The owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the lower universal anchorage system.

Some sport utility vehicles were built with a range shift collar in the transmission transfer case that contains cracks. This condition could result in a complete fracture of the range shift collar and subsequent loss of vehicle forward and reverse gears, and the inability to maintain "Park" position. Among other things, this increases the risk of a vehicle crash resulting from unintended movement of a parked vehicle.

Certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vans fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 135, "Passenger Car Brake Systems." Some of these vehicles were produced with an out-of-specification brake hydro-boost housing relief valve bore. Consequently, the valve O-ring seal may fracture. Steering efforts may be slightly increased while braking or parking. Under certain driving conditions, a fractured seal may also require an increase in the applied brake pedal effort to achieve the same vehicle deceleration.

On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive, the calibration of the transfer case control module could cause insufficient high-speed gear engagement. If the gear is not engaged, the vehicle can roll when the transmission is in "park," and a crash could result without warning.

On certain passenger vehicles equipped with electronic column lock systems (ECL), when the ignition switch is turned to LOCK the ECL prevents turning of the steering system. When the vehicle is started, the ECL unlocks the steering system. The vehicle is designed so that if the column fails to unlock when the vehicle is started and the customer tries to drive, the fuel supply will be shut off so that the vehicle cannot move when the vehicle cannot be steered. If voltage at the powertrain control module is low or interrupted, however, the fuel shut off may not occur and the vehicle can be accelerated while the steering system is locked. If this occurs, a crash could occur without warning.