Recall - Firestone Steel Wheels May Crack: Overview

85chevy04

85C20

3E

December, 1985

Subject: PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 85C20
FIRESTONE 16 X 6 DISC WHEEL MAY CRACK

Model and Year: 1985 C, K AND P30 CHEVROLET LIGHT DUTY MODEL TRUCKS
EQUIPPED WITH DUAL REAR WHEELS (RPO R05)

TO: ALL CHEVROLET DEALERS

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, provides that each vehicle which is subject to a recall campaign of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the owner has tendered it for repair. A failure to adequately repair within 60 days after tender of a vehicle is prima facie evidence of failure to repair within a reasonable time.

If the condition is not adequately repaired within a reasonable time, the owners may be entitled to an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle at no charge or to a refund of the purchase price less a reasonable allowance for depreciation.

To avoid having to provide these burdensome solutions, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each owner and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the letter which is being sent to owners, the owners are being instructed to contact the nearest Chevrolet Zone Office if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five days of the mutually agreed upon service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, they are instructed on how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.


DEFECT INVOLVED

General Motors has been notified by Firestone Steel Products that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some Firestone Steel Products 16 X 6 disc wheels, which were installed on some 1985 C, K, & P30 Chevrolet Light Duty Model Trucks equipped with dual rear wheels (RPO R05). Firestone has reported that a wheel failure could develop with a crack through the fillet weld nugget between the disc and rim. This crack could propagate around the wheel eventually resulting in a separation of the rim from the disc. When the vehicle is in motion, this may cause loss of vehicle control and subsequent vehicle crash without prior warning.
DEFECT INVOLVED (CONT'D)

Dealers are to inspect all wheels and replace any that have suspect manufacturing date codes.