[Press] 2005 Corvettes - Possible Recall for Brake Fluid Leak

[Rob]

Thursday, November 4, 2004



GM recalls nearly 1.5 million vehicles
Associated Press

DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. said Thursday it was recalling nearly 1.5 million vehicles in North America, ranging from 2002 to 2005 models.

Spokesman Alan Adler said the world’s largest automaker reported the recalls -- four in all -- to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Oct. 27. GM has recalled 10.47 million vehicles in North America so far this year, more than the 7.8 million for all of 2003, Adler said.

The latest recalls involve 1,496,056 vehicles, including 946,817 sport utility vehicles. The SUVs are the 2002-2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and Oldsmobile Bravada and the 2004 Buick Rainier.

Adler said the tail lamps could malfunction on the vehicles. The company has identified two crashes, one with injury, possibly related to the malfunction, Adler said.

A second recall involves the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire for tail lamp and turn-signal malfunctions. The total number of vehicles: 339,008.

Adler said the malfunction may have caused at least three crashes, none involving injuries.

A third recall involves the 2003 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac Grand Am and Oldsmobile Alero. The problem: the accelerator could stick and not return to idle. The number of vehicles involved is 204,317, Adler said, noting the company identified the problem through warranty information.

The final recall involves the 2004-2005 Cadillac XLR and the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette for a possible brake-fluid leak discovered in field tests, Adler said. The number of vehicles in the recall is 5,914, he said.

Owners will be notified by GM through the mail and repairs will be made free of charge at GM dealerships.

On the Net:

General Motors Corp.: http://www.gm.com

 

[Rob]

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER TO BE ASSIGNED 11/8/2004

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Year: 2005

Make: CHEVROLET

Model: CORVETTE

Potential Number of Units Affected: 1097

Manufactured From: 09/05/2004

Manufactured To: 11/01/2004

 

[Rob]

However, as posted on the NHTSA site:

Make : CHEVROLET

Model : CORVETTE

Year : 2005

Manufacturer : GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 04V525000

Recall Date : OCT 27, 2004

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Potential Number Of Units Affected : 5225

Summary:

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH ONE OR BOTH REAR BRAKE HYDRAULIC LINES THAT CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH OR BE AFFECTED BY HEAT FROM THE LEFT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THE LEFT EXHAUST PIPE. THE BRAKE FLUID COULD REACH ELEVATED TEMPERATURES AND BOIL.

Consequence:

IF THE BRAKE FLUID BOILS IN A REAR BRAKE LINE, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD BE REDUCED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A BRAKE LINE LEAK AND LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. IF ENOUGH FLUID LEAKS FROM THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM SO THAT BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION CAN NO LONGER BUILD PRESSURE TO THE REAR BRAKES. THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE WILL EXPERIENCE LIMITED BRAKING WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy:

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE LEFT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, THE LEFT EXHAUST PIPE, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING UNITS AND INSPECT BRAKE LINES FOR WEAR IN THESE RELATED AREAS AND REPAIR OR REPLACE WEAR-THROUGH ON THE NYLON OVERCOATING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED WITH AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2239 AND CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

Notes:

GENERAL MOTORS RECALL NO. 04086. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

 

[the dean]

Can you get the VIN for us?

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Another reason not to buy a first year model car like the C6.

 

[the dean]

Another reason not to buy a first year model car like the C6.

The comment by 99whiteC5 coupe is not particularly helpful. Recalls come during the life of a model--witness the recent recall on steering column locks. If no one buys the first year, there may not be a second year. As the former owner of a 99 C5 coupe, I can only say the C6 is superior, even in its recalled state.

 

[OLDGOAT]

problem not the reason for recall but the dealer

Only one dealer in my area sells more than a couple of corvettes a year.....and that one is 45 miles away on the other side of the metro area. I would not let any of the other dealers touch a Corvette expecially if it was a brand new model. This recall is a serious deficiency with a remedy that sounds like potentially major work requiring skilled mechanics. It's a shame to have to mess with a brand new C6 in a major way like this. If I owned a C6 and was facing this recall I'd certainly qualify the dealer doing the work prior to trusting them with the car. They'd need to know how to do it PRIOR to messing with my ride. In any new product having a high technological component market leading consumers always take a risk. The first owners get the thrill of being first but also may pay some dues as the bugs are worked out. I'm looking forward to the '06 C6.

 

[bluecoupe]

It is amazing. They drove the wheels off the test cars and this problem shows up now. It sounds like someone tried to save money by taking a shortcut. Oh well, stuff happens. Does anyone remember the 1968 models? They had a few bugs too. That seemed to have worked out ok.

 

[c4c5specialist]

The 97s had problems too, but try to tell anyone that has a mass produced vehicle.
Take a look at some other imports in the same class.
Every single new car introduction, no matter sports car, sedan or truck, has start up issues and problems.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[Rob]

The comment by 99whiteC5 coupe is not particularly helpful. Recalls come during the life of a model--witness the recent recall on steering column locks. If no one buys the first year, there may not be a second year. As the former owner of a 99 C5 coupe, I can only say the C6 is superior, even in its recalled state.

I agree 100%.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

The launch of any new model must be very difficult. But, based upon my experience with previous "new" models, I do not believe the first model year of a new vehicle is a good buy.

I waited until the third model year of the C5 to order and purchase one. The car still had a lot of problems, many of them common to the first three C5 model years (and problems that took Chevrolet many model years to find a fix).

The C6 recall was announced with the recall of 1.5 million GM cars. Many of the recall items involve basic, safety items. I do not understand how car manufacturers continue to produce vehicles with so many defects in BASIC systems (not new technology). The recalls must cost a considerable amount of money and generate ill-will on behalf of the consumer.

I am not anti-Corvette or anti-C6. I have owned at least one Corvette continuously for 30 years. I am very impressed with the new C6 but just like with my C5, I would not consider buying one until the second or third model year.

 

[bluecoupe]

Many of the recall items involve basic, safety items. I do not understand how car manufacturers continue to produce vehicles with so many defects in BASIC systems (not new technology).

We can all thank NAFTA for the cheap defective parts and poor build quality. Corporate greed is ruining American Quality. "Made in America" used to mean "Made in the USA" but now it includes assembly in the USA, Canada and Mexico. The parts are sourced from all over the world. Even the parts made here have to be done more cheaply to compete with the inferior but cheaper import parts.

 

[Edmond]

I hope that they have solved the problem in the manufacturing process so no more cars are coming off the line with the potential for that problem.

Just a little bruise in C6's ego, they're working on it and I'm confident that they'll have things corrected. Afterall, GM isn't going to let it's #1 son take a PR beating.

 

[Wafflekyd]

One way to determine whether or not your Corvette is part of this recall is to register yourself and your C6 at http://www.mygmlink.com . You input your VIN when you register, and you can check to see if there are any recalls for that VIN. At least, I'd assume GM's computer records would be up to date. This site says that my C6 VIN is not part of the recall.

 

[the dean]

Thank you. First I tried the 800 number, and they did not even know about the recall.
Then I went to mygmlink, put in my VIN and am waiting for an answer. I hope my answer is as positive as yours. In the meantime, I am just going fast and not using the brakes.

 

[Wafflekyd]

If the people at the 800 number don't know about the recall, then it may be that the mygmlink computers don't know about it as well. At the very worst, I'd expect quick notification through their computer system once they determine which VIN's are in the recall. As for the recall itself, I guess I always sort of applaud companies for admitting their mistakes and trying to fix them. Yeah, we all wish that every product was perfect by the time it reached the market, but we live in an imperfect world. People make mistakes. I'm just glad that when car companies realize they made a mistake, they don't sweep them under the carpet like they did in decades past.

 

[Craig-o]

There can be a substantial delay between GMs press release and their internal processes.

An alert friend saw a press release from GM on the steering wheel lock in the Wall Street Journal dated February 11, 2004 and forwarded it to me on Feb 12. When I experienced the lock-up in April (>6 weeks later), I called the dealer who ran the VIN - no active recall. I called the 800 number who ran the VIN - no active recall. I cited the press release - got nowhere. I paid for the fix, and finally got the recall notice... in AUGUST! They did reimburse me, but it taught me that in a company as big as GM, their public relations department moves much quicker than customer service.

 

[YouNotRHart]

Another reason not to buy a first year model car like the C6.

I thought I was agnostic, but now I have seen, heard and felt the power of the creator. Waiting was Not an option.