Bulletin No.: 14204A
Date: September 2014

Recall Bulletin

PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL
SUBJECT:

Inner Tie Rod Torque

MODELS:

2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2014 GMC Sierra 1500
2015 Chevrolet Tahoe

The Parts Information section have been revised. Dealers should refer to the GM Parts
Catalog when ordering a replacement steering gear assembly. Please discard all copies
of bulletin 14204.
It is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to deliver a new motor vehicle or any new or
used item of motor vehicle equipment (including a tire) covered by this notification under
a sale or lease until the defect or noncompliance is remedied.
GM attempted to contact customers via a FedEx letter to inform them of this recall. The
letter instructed the customer not to drive their vehicle and to immediately contact their
dealer to have the vehicle towed to the dealership. Dealers are to provide the customer
with a courtesy vehicle, if necessary.
CONDITION
General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some
2014 model year (MY) Chevrolet Silverado 1500 series and 2014 MY GMC Sierra 1500 series
and 2015 MY Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The tie rod threaded attachment to the steering gear
rack on the vehicle may not be tightened to specification. With this condition, the tie rod can
separate from the steering rack and a crash could occur without prior warning.
CORRECTION
Dealers are to contact each customer to arrange to have their vehicle towed to the dealership.
Customers should not drive their vehicle to the dealership. Upon arrival, dealers are to
inspect inner tie rods for correct torque, and, if necessary, replace the steering gear.
Dealers are to advise customers not to drive their vehicle until it has been inspected or
repaired and, if necessary, provide the customer with a courtesy vehicle.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
All involved vehicles are identified by Vehicle Identification Number on the Investigate Vehicle
History screen in GM Global Warranty Management system. Dealership service personnel
should always check this site to confirm vehicle involvement prior to beginning any required
Copyright 2014 General Motors. All Rights Reserved.

Page 2

September 2014

Bulletin No.: 14204A

inspections and/or repairs. It is important to routinely use this tool to verify eligibility because
not all similar vehicles may be involved regardless of description or option content.
For dealers with involved vehicles, a listing with involved vehicles containing the complete
vehicle identification number, customer name, and address information has been prepared and
will be provided to US and Canadian dealers through the GM GlobalConnect Recall Reports, or
sent directly to export dealers. Dealers will not have a report available if they have no involved
vehicles currently assigned.
The listing may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle
Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any purpose other
than follow-up necessary to complete this recall is a violation of law in several
states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this report to the followup necessary to complete this recall.
PART INFORMATION
Parts required to complete this recall are to be obtained from General Motors Customer Care
and Aftersales (GMCC&A). Please refer to your “involved vehicles listing” before ordering parts.
Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. In an emergency
situation, parts should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.
Part Number
11562064

Description
Steering Gear Boot Clamp

Quantity/Vehicle
2

See GM Parts
Catalog

Gear Asm-Elec Belt Drive R/Pinion Strg

1 (As Req’d)

SERVICE PROCEDURE
INNER TIE ROD INSPECTION
1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in SI.

3849385

2. Remove the steering gear skid shield (1). Refer to Steering Gear Skid Shield Replacement
in SI.

Page 3

September 2014

Bulletin No.: 14204A

3849431

Note: Gain access to the inner tie rod to rack bar connections on both left and right sides by
repositioning the steering gear boots.
3. On the left and right sides, remove both the inboard/outboard steering gear boot clamps and
slide the boot fully outboard. Refer to Steering Gear Boot Replacement in SI.

3849638

4.

Using a paint pen or marker, place an indexing mark from the tie rod to the rack bar, on both
sides.

3850442

Note: Use of a 1 9/16" crowfoot is necessary to check the torque.

Page 4

September 2014

Bulletin No.: 14204A

3851135

Caution: The pipe wrench must be placed on the rack bar of the steering gear and positioned
up against the inner tie rod housing. The pipe wrench must be used to react the torque which
will be applied (via the crows foot wrench) to the inner tie rod ball joint assembly. Placing the
pipe wrench in any other location will cause damage to the steering gear.
5. Holding the rack bar with a pipe wrench, check the "torque to tighten" on the tie rod to rack
bar attachment on both sides. Apply 30 Nm (22 lb ft) torque in a clockwise direction. Do not
exceed this specification.
6. Inspect both the left and right inner tie rod and rack bar for a change in position of the index
mark with respect to each other.


If any position change is observed on either side, the steering gear assembly must
be replaced. Proceed to STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT.



If no relative motion is observed between the tie rod and the rack bar, on either
side, continue to step #7.

3851435

IMPORTANT: Prior to installing the inboard clamp, apply a small amount of grease on the
steering gear housing, where the steering gear boot sits on each side.

Page 5

September 2014

Bulletin No.: 14204A

3851449

7. Reinstall the steering gear boot to the rack housing with a new crimp clamp, on both left and
right sides. Refer to Steering Gear Boot Replacement in SI.
8. Reinstall the steering gear skid shield. Refer to Steering Gear Skid Shield Replacement in
SI.
STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT
1. Remove the steering gear assembly. Refer to Electric Belt Drive Rack and Pinion Steering
Gear Replacement in SI.
2. Install the new steering gear assembly. Refer to Electric Belt Drive Rack and Pinion Steering
Gear Replacement in SI.
COURTESY TRANSPORTATION – For U.S. and Canada
The General Motors Courtesy Transportation program is intended to minimize customer
inconvenience when a vehicle requires a repair that is covered by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranties. The availability of courtesy transportation to customers whose vehicles are within
the warranty coverage period and involved in a product program is very important in maintaining
customer satisfaction. Dealers are to ensure that these customers understand that shuttle
service or some other form of courtesy transportation is available and will be provided at no
charge. Dealers should refer to the General Motors Service Policies and Procedures Manual
for Courtesy Transportation guidelines.
WARRANTY TRANSACTION INFORMATION
Submit a transaction using the table below. All transactions should be submitted as a ZFAT
transaction type, unless noted otherwise.
Labor
Code
9100557
9100558

Description
Inspect Inner Tie Rod for Correct Torque (Both Sides)
Replace Electric Belt Drive Rack and Pinion Steering Gear
(Includes Inspection)

Labor
Time
1.0

Net
Item
N/A

3.0

N/A

Note: The applicable towing charge should be claimed as “Net Item Towing” within the GWM
claim submission.

Page 6

September 2014

Bulletin No.: 14204A

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION – For U.S. and Canada
General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle via FedEx letter.
CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION – For Export
Letters will be sent to known owners of record located within areas covered by the US National
Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. For owners outside these areas, dealers should notify
customers using the attached sample letter.
DEALER RECALL RESPONSIBILITY – For U.S. and Export (U.S. States, Territories,
and Possessions)
It is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to deliver a new motor vehicle or any new or used item
of motor vehicle equipment (including a tire) covered by this notification under a sale or lease
until the defect or noncompliance is remedied.
The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle that is subject
to a recall of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the customer
has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within sixty 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 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 remedies, every effort must be
made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair their vehicle as
soon as possible. In the recall notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the recall is not completed within a reasonable
time.
DEALER RECALL RESPONSIBILITY – All
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. A copy of the customer letter is provided in this bulletin for your use in
contacting customers. 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, you must take the steps necessary to be sure the recall
correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that
may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the tools,
equipment, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to
your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.

We Support
Voluntary Technician
Certification