Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT
01V200000GENERAL MOTORS CORP.from 10/01/1996 to 10/31/1996V (Vehicle)4860009/04/2001ODIGENERAL MOTORS CORP.06/28/200107/02/2001
Defect SummaryOn certain sport utility vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, and wisconsin, and in the district of columbia. failure of an upper control arm ball joint assembly could occur due to corrosion.
Consequence SummaryThis can result in impaired steering or steering loss, or a partial or complete collapse of the front suspension, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective SummaryDealers will replace both upper ball joints. owner notification began september 4, 2001. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
NotesAlso contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
01I018000GENERAL MOTORS CORP. I12/04/2001ODIGENERAL MOTORS CORP.12/04/200101/07/2002
Defect SummaryThis is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. however, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. vehicle description: 1996-1997 4-wheel drive chevrolet blazer, gmc jimmy, and oldsmobile bravada sport utility vehicles. some owners have had to pay for replacement of the upper ball joints that have separated. gm is providing a special policy to these owners to cover upper ball joint replacement if the customer followed the recommended maintenance schedule for the chassis lubrication and the vehicle still required the replacement of the upper ball joints due to separation.
Consequence SummaryThis could cause a loss of steering control of the vehicle.
Corrective SummaryGm has decided to conduct a customer satisfaction campaign to replace the upper ball joints on affected vehicles. this special policy is for a period of 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the date the vheicle was originally placed in service, regardless of ownership. the upper ball joint replacement, due to separation, will be made at no charge to the customer during this period. owners can contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-862-4389, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, concerning this program.
Notes

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
SUSPENSION - FRONT
0201501/01/200410006961Pop snap noise in the front suspension when braking. *mr05/20/2004
0104912/05/2001628527Special policy adjustment for four-wheel and all-wheel utility vehicles that may have front suspension upper ball joints that separate at a lower mileage than expected by customers. *tt03/13/2002
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT
0104911/01/2001628913Special policy adjustment 01049 for upper ball joint replacement. *tt03/22/2002

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
SUSPENSION
08/01/2012160000
 While driving i would hear like a motor running sound that would last approx 5/10 sec. and during this time the brake pedal would rise and get hard and i would have to apply lots of pressure in order for vehicle to stop which does so with grind. i replaced both rotors,calipers,brake pads,mastercylinder and brake booster.abs light would come on when hit bump and go off after awhile .finally i removed fuse from abs and problem ceased.in processes of diognosing problem.discovered suspension in front falling apart replaced inner/outer tierods,pitman arm,both upper/lower ball joints,passenger upper control arm and wheel hub.rear windsheild wiper no longer works and windshield wiper freezes during rain which has caused wiper motor to be replaced.driver side door hinges replaced numerous times causing door not to shut properly and doesnt sit level,fuel gauge doesnt read properly when full it reads 1/2 tank and when reads empty its unknown how much gas is really in tank have to rely on miles counter and carry extra gallon of gas.
01/15/20030
 Ac compressor replaced twice. flush cooling system (dexcool). idler arm replaced 48222. lower ball joints.48222 recalled left rear axle leak.48222 oil cooler lines replaced,48222. charging system failer replaced alternater 47577 replaced battery 47577 frnt brakes and rotors 45631 fuel sender unit39434 driver side door pin 39434 ses light on oxygen sensor replace ac compressor 35338 clean egr valve 35338 ac compressor 33196 51000 lower ball joints are worn again (dealer replaced original because of recall) put junk back on vehicle.
SUSPENSION - FRONT
03/15/200257698203/29/2000
 My vehicle was purchased as used with 33,000 miles, i purchased an extended warranty which has paid for many repairs to date,march of 2002 my vehicle had the lower ball joints replaced under this warranty. i had vehicle inspected private garage and they noted lower ball joint wear, i contacted oldsmobile because the parts were replaced at an olds dealer the manufacturer of my vehicle incident number 1-65943454 they noted contacting dealer and would repair vehicle,and since it was covered under the warranty i purchased would not compensate other repairs,i wanted to file complaint because replacement ball joints only lasted a year and that these were also defective parts. ts
10/25/2001102/01/1999
 Sorry i forgot to give a street number. once again olds is saying my 97 bravada is not included in this campaign but it has been diagnosed from an authorized gm service center with these issues..i feel i am being pushed around and that the recall should be widened before more people get hurt and my truck should be covered, it is a 97, it was sold in il and it has the same problem as the recall at 50,000 miles this is too much of a coincidence for me. thank you for your time and support. ken chamberlain. no safety defect listed. *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM
10/25/2001102/01/1999
 There is already a recall out for the upper and lower control arm ball joint assembly but olds is telling me that my truck does not qualify for this campaign..i think we need to expand this recall and that i am getting pushed around..thank you for helping me. *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT
03/10/200360000111/27/2001
 The vehicle was difficult to steer, the dealer determined the front ball joints had separated and the front axle was ready to fall off. (both sides).*jb *ts
03/15/200257698203/29/2000
 My vehicle was purchased as used with 33,000 miles, i purchased an extended warranty which has paid for many repairs to date,march of 2002 my vehicle had the lower ball joints replaced under this warranty. i had vehicle inspected private garage and they noted lower ball joint wear, i contacted oldsmobile because the parts were replaced at an olds dealer the manufacturer of my vehicle incident number 1-65943454 they noted contacting dealer and would repair vehicle,and since it was covered under the warranty i purchased would not compensate other repairs,i wanted to file complaint because replacement ball joints only lasted a year and that these were also defective parts. ts
109/01/1997
 The upper and lower ball joints failed. nlm
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT
07/31/20071250001
 Tl*the contact owns a 1997 oldsmobile bravada. he stated that the right front end of the vehicle collapsed. the mechanic stated that the control arm could have caused the failure. there is a recall for the upper ball joints (nhtsa campaign #01v200000) however, the vin was not included as part of the recall. the current and failure mileages were 125,000. updated 02/08/08. *lj
06/26/2004135105107/20/1997
 Dt: recalls 01i018000 and 01v200000 was issued but not on caller's car. upper ball joint broke without warning and while driving. dealer and manufacturer said callers vehicle was not included in recalls due to vin. manufacturer said if there was injury or death they would have done something.*ak
11/03/200480100110/29/2004
 I had been experiencing excessive vibration on the front end of my 1997 old's bravada. i took it in and was told it required ball joints but apparently there is a nhtsa campaign id # of 01i018000 in reference to it and that gm had decided to conduct a customer satisfaction campaign to replace them for a peiod of 8yr's or 100,000 miles whichever comes first from the date the vehicle was placed in service. well, i did that and was told after a total run around as well as the service garage going thru the run around as well calling on it, that it does not affect my 97' old's bravada. so here i am with a truck that is under the stated time of repair by gm with front end work that will cost me over $800.00 to fix and gm does not care. so what was the purpose of having a campaign on the vehicle if gm had not intention of doing anything about it? the service guy at the garage even asked the rep. from gm, so am i supposed to let the guy drive off with the bad balljoints so his wheels fall off and possibly creating an accident? she did not respond and said there is nothing they will do. so in the meantime i have a truck that i can not drive much for fear of the wheels falling off, unless i pay for the work to do so. so what was the point of the compaint when gm intended on doing nothing about it? i have had nothing but problem after problem since i bought this car from the dealer a couple of months back and will never buy a gm product as long as i live again. i should have just stayed with my toyota.*ak
04/15/200483000
 At 80,000 miles i had to have the trasmission replaced. at the time i inquired about the ball joints recall. dealership told me there was no such recall. 6 months later i took it in because of a clunking sound under the car. they told me i need a new drive shaft, transfer case and ball joints for a total of $3747.00! it's not safe to drive and i don't have that kind of money to fix it. has been a lemon from the start.
08/24/200385000109/13/2001
 Passenger side control arm, upper ball joint broke while going down driveway at low speed. wheel was then completely unstable, vehicle immediately parked in driveway as it was too risky to attempt to return to residence.*ak
04/17/200359598111/12/1997
 While getting the tires rotated and aligned the dealer diagnosed that the upper ball joint was loose in the control arms. the technician also found indicated that the lower ball joints wore out. the consumer felt that the failure of the upper ball joint, recall number 01v-200000, should also cover the wear of the lower ball joints. *nlm *nlm
06/16/2002
 While driving at 35-40 mph upper ball joint broke, and consumer could not control vehicle. contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak
04/20/2002
 Upper ball joints went bad, making it hard to steer vehicle.*ak
109/01/1997
 The upper and lower ball joints failed. nlm
SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING
03/18/19991
 Customer stated that noise in the bearing, dealer replaced right front hub bearing assembly, wheel bearing loose and noisy, replaced left front wheel bearing. *yd
SUSPENSION - REAR
02/01/2002
 While traveling on highway heard a loud squeaking noise coming from rear wheel. dealership is aware of problem.*ak