FRONT SUSPENSION AREA ON THE FRAME WHERE THE IDLER ARM ATTACHES, RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE FRAME. RESULTED IN AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 2 X 3 INCHES BEING PULLED COMPLETELY OUT OF THE FRAME, LEAVING A HOLE IN THE CENTER OF THE FRAME. A COMPLETE LOSS OFF STEERING RESULTED AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. REAR DOOR …
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FRONT SUSPENSION AREA ON THE FRAME WHERE THE IDLER ARM ATTACHES, RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE FRAME. RESULTED IN AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 2 X 3 INCHES BEING PULLED COMPLETELY OUT OF THE FRAME, LEAVING A HOLE IN THE CENTER OF THE FRAME. A COMPLETE LOSS OFF STEERING RESULTED AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. REAR DOOR FAILS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 18 TO 24 MONTHS. THE REAR DOOR LATCH HAS BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. DEALER HAD TO BREAK INTO THE REAR DOORS IN ORDER TO GET THEM OPEN.
NHTSA ODI #535883
Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 1998
Suspension
FRONT END FAILURE. LOWER CONTROL ARM RUSTED TO THE POINT IT AND THE HEAVY DUTY SPRING BROKE. WHEN FRONT END DROPPED VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED ALLOWING DRIVER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE.
THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL BETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. THIS "SOFT" JOINT RESULTS IN LOWER THAN SPECIFIED BOLT TORQUE WHICH LEADS TO JOINT LOOSENESS, CAUSING BOLT FATIGUE AND EVENTUAL BOLT FAILURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULDALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.
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