Product Safety - Retaining Bolt Trailer Coupling (EUROPE ONLY)

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazers equipped with European trailer coupling device delivered from the European central compound before November 25, 2002.

The bolt and nut retaining the trailer hitch housing may not have been torqued to the correct specification.

The bolt may come loose or break which could lead to the hitch ball disengaging from the vehicle while towing the trailer.

Dealers are to inspect the trailer coupling, replace the bolt and nut and torque to the proper specification.

Involved are certain 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazers:

Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number. Computer listings containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data have been prepared, and are being furnished by NSCs to involved dealers with the recall bulletin. The customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this recall.

Parts will be supplied from Portica directly to the dealers free of charge according to the VINs sold by the respective dealers.

1. Visually inspect the trailer coupling device located inside the 2" square tube in the center of the rear bumper.
2. Remove the retaining nut and bolt (item 1), discard the parts. The sleeves and the housing (item 2) stay in place.
3. Use the replacement nut and bolt to secure the housing.

Tighten
Tighten with 46 N·m torque.

4. Apply a yellow paint dot on the nut and the visible thread of the bolt.
5. Install the GM Recall Identification Label.

Important: If the bolt or nut is missing from the assembly it will be necessary to replace the sleeves and housing. In that case, please send the housing to:

Place a Recall Identification Label on each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Recall Bulletin. Each label provides a space to include the recall number 02062 and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the recall service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.

Put the Recall Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. When installing the Recall Identification Label, be sure to pull the tab to allow the adhesion of the clear protective covering. Additional Recall Identification Labels can be ordered by dealers from Portica GmbH, Mr. Lars Steffen, Von-Galen-Strasse 35, D-47904 Kempen, Germany, Fax: ++49 2152 915 222.

Submit a Product Recall Claim with the information indicated below:

Will be handled by each NSC.

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this recall MUST be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this recall bulletin BEFORE customers take possession of these vehicles.

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

Customers who have recently purchased vehicles sold from your vehicle inventory, and for which there is no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer. Arrangements are to be made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such customers a copy of the customer letter accompanying this bulletin. Recall follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the customer may not as yet have received the notification letter.

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