Somerset Regal L4-151 2.5L (1985)
Technical Service Bulletin # 85C1
Date: 840901
Recall - Tie Rod Loosen and Seperation
Model Year
1985
Bulletin No
85-C-1
File In Group 3
Number
4
Date Sept. 1984
SUBJECT:
TIE ROD PINCH BOLT TORQUE TOO LOW
MODELS AFFECTED: 1985 SOMERSET REGALS
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 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
owner 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 Buick home office if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five (5) days of the agreed service date. If the condition is not
remedied within a reasonable time, the owners are instructed on how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
CONDITION
General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some early production 1985 Somerset Regals. The vehicles
have been assembled with inadequate clamp load on the tie rod adjuster. This could allow the tie rod to loosen and separate from the tie rod adjuster. Tie
rod separation could cause a loss of steering control which could result in a vehicle crash without prior warning.
Vehicle, Dealer and Owner Information
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain early production 1985 Buick Somerset Regals with the following serial numbers:
From
Through and including
Lansing Plant
FM 400001
FM 404180
(S.O.P.)
INVOICES WILL NOT BE RELEASED ON THESE VEHICLES UNTIL YOU HAVE PROVIDED A COPY OF THE REPAIR ORDER TO YOUR
BUICK ZONE OFFICE TO VERIFY THAT VEHICLE(S) HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNED.
DEALER ACTION
To eliminate the possibility of this occurring on vehicles involved, the inner and outer tie rod pinch bolts are to be tightened according to instructions in
the Technical Procedure Section of this bulletin.
Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to the owner, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time
forward.
Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your dealership for service in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the
campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.
Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the dealer and arrangements made to make the required
modification according to instructions contained in this bulletin.
DEALER MATERIAL
If your dealership has vehicles involved in this campaign, you will receive the following items:
