GLOBAL SAFETY FIELD INVESTIGATIONS
DCS4964
URGENT - DISTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY
Date:

January 23, 2019

Subject: N182194810 - Customer Satisfaction Program
Cold Welds on Driver's Side Front Shock Tower
Models: 2019 Chevrolet Equinox
To:

All General Motors Dealers

General Motors is releasing Customer Satisfaction Program N182194810
today. The total number of U.S. vehicles involved is approximately 112.
Please see the attached bulletin for details.
Customer Letter Mailing
The customer letter mailing will begin on February 6, 2019.
Global Warranty Management (GWM)
The Investigate Vehicle History (IVH) screen in the GWM system will be updated
January 23, 2019. A list of involved vehicles is attached to this message. Please hold
all warranty transactions until IVH has been updated.
END OF MESSAGE
GLOBAL SAFETY FIELD INVESTIGATIONS

Customer Satisfaction Program
N182194810 Cold Welds on Driver’s Side Front Shock Tower
Release Date:
Attention:

January 2019

Revision:

00

This program is in effect until February 28, 2021.

Make
Chevrolet

Model
Equinox

Model Year
From
To
2019
2019

RPO

Description

Involved vehicles are marked “open” on the Investigate Vehicle History screen in GM Global Warranty Management
system. This site should always be checked to confirm vehicle involvement prior to beginning any required inspections
and/or repairs.
Condition

Correction

Certain 2019 model year Chevrolet Equinox vehicles may have multiple incomplete welds that join the
shock tower to the shock tower skirt on the driver’s side front wheelhouse assembly. Symptoms of the
condition may not be noticeable to the customer, but following a severe pothole event, the customer may
experience reduced vehicle control and handling performance. In addition, if the condition is not
corrected, the involved parts may degrade over time resulting in reduced long-term durability.
Repair driver’s side front wheelhouse welds and refinish.

Parts
Quantity
2

Part Name

Part No.
11610468

Bolt

It is estimated that only 129 involved vehicles will require parts replaced. Due to the small number of vehicles
anticipated that will need this fix and the limited initial parts availability, dealers are encouraged not to order
these parts for use as shelf stock.
Reminder: Parts may be removed from RIM management. Dealers should review the affected parts to confirm RIM
managed status. Parts may have quantity limiters in effect.
Warranty Information
Labor
Operation
9104290

Description
Repair Left Front Wheelhouse Welds, Includes Refinish

Labor
Time
6.0

Trans.
Type
ZFAT

Net
Item
*

* The amount identified in “Net Item” should represent the actual sum total of the current GMCCA Dealer net price for the
3M 05917 WELD-THRU II, 3M 08852 Cavity Wax Plus, 3M 08367 Black Urethane Seam Sealer and paint and materials
(code GF) needed to perform the required repairs, not to exceed $101.87 USD, $136.00 CAD.
Service Procedure
Warning: Refer to Approved Equipment for Collision Repair Warning in SI.
Warning: Refer to Glass and Sheet Metal Handling Warning in SI.
1.

Remove the battery tray. Refer to Battery Tray Replacement in SI.

2.

Remove the ground cable from the stud on the wheelhouse.

3.

Remove the radiator surge tank fasteners and position the assembly out of the repair area, it is not necessary to
drain and fill the coolant. Refer to Radiator Surge Tank Replacement in SI.

4.

Remove the windshield washer solvent container. Refer to Windshield Washer Solvent Container Replacement in
SI.

5.

Remove the left front suspension strut assembly. Refer to Strut Assembly Removal and Installation in SI.

6.

Cover the engine compartment, windshield and exterior body panels with weld blankets.

Copyright 2019 General Motors. All Rights Reserved.

Page 1 of 6

Customer Satisfaction Program
N182194810 Cold Welds on Driver’s Side Front Shock Tower

5209245

7.

Remove the body caulking from the left front wheelhouse to strut cap weld joint in the area shown above.

5209256

8.

Locate the 4 welds as shown.

9.

Using an abrasive wheel, remove all the paint and coatings in the weld area. Clean the area to bare metal.

10. Drill 8 mm (5/16 in) plug weld holes on front wheelhouse panel at the four identified locations. Use care to only drill
through the first layer of sheet metal.
11. Apply a Weld-Thru Coating such as 3M 05917 WELD-THRU II or equivalent to all welding surfaces. Slightly separate
the panels to insure the coating penetrates the joint. Refer to Anti-Corrosion Treatment and Repair in SI.

5209260

12. Install MIG/MAG plug welds at the drilled locations.

Page 2 of 6

Customer Satisfaction Program
N182194810 Cold Welds on Driver’s Side Front Shock Tower

5209267

5209274

13. With the vehicle raised, locate the 3 edge weld areas on the underside of the strut cap to wheelhouse joint.
14. Using an abrasive wheel, remove all the paint and coatings in the weld area. Clean the area to bare metal.
15. Apply a Weld-Thru Coating such as 3M 05917 WELD-THRU II or equivalent to all welding surfaces. Refer to AntiCorrosion Treatment and Repair in SI.

Page 3 of 6

Customer Satisfaction Program
N182194810 Cold Welds on Driver’s Side Front Shock Tower

5209277

16. Install stitch MIG/MAG welds in the identified areas. Make each weld at the #1 locations 22mm (0.87 in.) in length.
Make the weld at the #2 location 20mm (0.79 in.) in length.
17. Using an appropriate solvent, remove all Weld-Thru Coatings from the repair areas. This material is only needed
during the welding process.

5209284

18. Apply 3M 08852 Cavity Wax Plus or equivalent to the repair area. Refer to Anti-Corrosion Treatment and Repair in
SI. Insert the application tube in the four openings and coat the cavity.
19. Seal the under-body seam area using 3M 08367 Black Urethane Seam Sealer or equivalent. Refer to Anti-Corrosion
Treatment and Repair in SI.
20. Seal the under-hood repair using 3M 08367 Black Urethane Seam Sealer or equivalent. Use care to replicate the
original factory applied seam sealer, this area is visible to the customer. Refer to Anti-Corrosion Treatment and Repair
in SI.
21. Refinish the repair areas as required. Refer to Paint and Coatings in SI.
22. Reinstall the left front strut assembly, radiator surge tank, windshield washer solvent container, ground cable and
battery tray.

Page 4 of 6

Customer Satisfaction Program
N182194810 Cold Welds on Driver’s Side Front Shock Tower
Dealer Responsibility
All new, used, GM Certified Used, courtesy transportation vehicles, dealer shuttle vehicles, etc. in dealers' possession
and subject to this program must be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this bulletin before
customers take possession of these vehicles. Involved vehicles must be held and not delivered to customers, dealertraded, released to auction, used for demonstration, or any other purpose.
All GM Certified Used vehicles currently in the dealers’ inventory within the Certified Pre-Owned Inventory System
(CPOIS) will be de-certified and must be held and remedied per the service procedure in this bulletin. Upon submitting
an accepted/paid warranty transaction in the Global Warranty Management (GWM) system, the vehicle can be re-certified
for sale within the CPOIS system, or once again be used in the CTP program.
Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this program at no charge to customers, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle,
or ownership, through February 28, 2021. Customers who have recently purchased vehicles sold from your vehicle
inventory, and for which there is no customer information indicated on the involved vehicle 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. Program followup 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 program enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your facility for service
through February 28, 2021, you must take the steps necessary to be sure the program correction has been made before
selling or releasing the vehicle.
Dealer Reports
For dealers with involved vehicles, a listing with involved vehicles has been prepared and will be provided to U.S. and
Canadian dealers through the GM GlobalConnect Recall Reports, or sent directly to export dealers. 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 program is a violation of law in
several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this report to the follow-up necessary to
complete this program.
Courtesy Transportation – For USA & Canada
Courtesy transportation is available for customers whose vehicles are involved in a product program and still within the
warranty coverage period. See General Motors Service Policies and Procedures Manual, Sections 1.4 and 6.1.10, for
courtesy transportation program details.
Customer Notification
USA & Canada - General Motors will notify customers of this program on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter included
with this bulletin).

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

Page 5 of 6

Customer Satisfaction Program
N182194810 Cold Welds on Driver’s Side Front Shock Tower
February 2019
This notice applies to your vehicle, VIN: ________________________________
Dear General Motors Customer:
We have learned that your 2019 model year Chevrolet Equinox may have incomplete welds that join the shock tower to
the shock tower skirt on the driver’s side front wheelhouse assembly. Symptoms of the condition may not be
noticeable, but following a severe pothole event, you may experience reduced vehicle control and handling
performance. In addition, if the condition is not corrected, the involved parts may degrade over time resulting in
reduced long-term durability.
Your satisfaction with your Equinox is very important to us, so we are announcing a program to prevent this condition
or, if it has occurred, to fix it.
What We Will Do: Your GM dealer will repair the driver’s side front wheelhouse welds. This service will be performed
for you at no charge until February 28, 2021. After that, any applicable warranty will apply.
What You Should Do: To limit any possible inconvenience, we recommend that you contact your dealer as soon as
possible to schedule an appointment for this repair. By scheduling an appointment, your dealer can ensure that the
necessary parts will be available on your scheduled appointment date.
If you have any questions or concerns that your dealer is unable to resolve, please contact the appropriate Customer
Assistance Center at the number listed below.
Division
Chevrolet
Puerto Rico – English
Puerto Rico – Español
Virgin Islands

Number
1-800-222-1020
1-800-496-9992
1-800-496-9993
1-800-496-9994

Text Telephones (TTY)
1-800-833-2438

We truly appreciate you taking the time to remedy your vehicle as we know your time is valuable. We want you to know
that we will do our best, throughout your ownership experience, to ensure that your Equinox provides you many miles of
enjoyable driving.
Neelie O’Connor
Executive Director
North America Contact Center Operations
N182194810

Page 6 of 6