Recall - Throttle Control Cable Binding: Overview

Number: 94-C-1 (Safety)

Date: October, 1993

Group: 6

SUBJECT:
THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE RETENTION

MODEL:
CERTAIN 1994 ELDORADOS AND SEVILLES

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 owner may be entitled to an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle at no charge or to a rehind 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 owner letter, if the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, 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 1994 model Cadillac Eldorados and Sevilles. The throttle control cable can become disengaged from the retaining bracket allowing the cable to interfere with the throttle cam mechanism. Such interference could result in the throttle sticking in the open or closed position. While vehicle control can be maintained by applying the service brake, if the throttle sticks in the open position unexpected vehicle movement could result in a vehicle crash without prior warning.

DEALER ACTION

To correct this condition, dealers are to install a throttle control cable tie strap on all involved vehicles as per the Vehicles Involved and Service Procedure sections of this bulletin.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Certain 1994 model Eldorados and Sevilles built within the following VIN ranges require this campaign:

Eldorado - RU6OOOOl - Through - RU603967
Seville - RU8OOOOl - Through - RU8O684O

Note that 2,257 affected vehicles were corrected at the assembly plant prior to shipment and are not included in this campaign.

All vehicles indicated on your Dealer List require this campaign; other suspect vehicles should be checked for campaign involvement prior to sale or service utilizing the Vehicle Information Service System (VISS).

DEALER LIST

A list of involved vehicles, which our records indicate were sold by or shipped to you, is enclosed for your follow-up. This list contains owner names, addresses and telephone numbers obtained from Cadillac delivery records. Dealers are to contact the owners of the vehicles indicated on their list and arrange for the campaign correction to be performed as soon as possible. If no list is enclosed, none of the suspect vehicles are known to be in your area.

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this campaign must be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this campaign bulletin before owners take possession of these vehicles.

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such owners a copy of the owner letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the owner may not as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

OWNER NOTIFICATION

Owners of vehicles affected by this campaign will be notified by letter from Cadillac Motor Car Division. A copy of the owner letter is included.

COURTESY TRANSPORTATION

The availability of courtesy transportation to owners of vehicles involved in this campaign is of the utmost importance in maintaining customer satisfaction. Dealers are to take the steps necessary to ensure that these owners clearly understand that courtesy transportation is available and will be provided upon request at no charge to the owner.

To support dealer efforts in this regard, Cadillac has made specific adjustments to allow payment of courtesy transportation claims related to the completion of this campaign even though the labor time involved is less than two (2) hours. Dealers should submit such claims in the normal manner and appropriate credit will be issued.