Roadmaster Estate Wagon V8-350 5.7L VIN P SFI (1996)
Ball Joint: Recalls
Recall - Lower Ball Joint Failure
BUICK
96-C-14
Issued: 04-01-96
SUBJECT:
PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN - LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT
MODELS AFFECTED:
CERTAIN 1995-96 BUICK ROADMASTERS
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 repair within sixty (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 customer may be entitled to an identical or reasonable 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 customer and to
repair their vehicle as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the letter that is being sent to customers, the customers are being
instructed to contact the Buick Customer Relations Center if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five (5) 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 decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1995-96 Buick Roadmaster model vehicles. The lower
control arm ball joint attachment nut may be loose. This condition can cause the lower control arm ball joint to loosen, fatigue and separate from the
front suspension knuckle. If separation were to occur with the vehicle in motion, loss of vehicle control may occur which could result in a vehicle crash
without prior warning.
To correct this condition, all involved vehicles will have both front lower control arm ball joint attachment nuts inspected for proper torque. If the ball
joint has loosened from the knuckle, both the ball joint and knuckle will be replaced.