Recall Bulletin

Bulletin No.: 14453
Date: July 2014
:

PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL
SUBJECT:

Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Retaining Bolt Loose

MODELS:

2014 Chevrolet Spark

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.
All involved vehicles that are in dealer inventory must be held and not delivered to customers,
dealer traded, or used for demonstration purposes until the repair contained in this bulletin has
been performed on the vehicle.
CONDITION
General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain
2014 model year Chevrolet Spark model vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a condition in
which a lower control arm bolt was not fastened to specification. This condition could result in
noise from the front suspension and separation of the lower control arm from the steering knuckle
while driving, resulting in loss of steering control, potentially increasing the risk of a crash.
CORRECTION
Dealers are to inspect the RH and LH lower control arm ball joint bolt and torque the bolt to
specification.
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
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.
Copyright 2014 General Motors. All Rights Reserved.

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Bulletin No.: 14453

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
In almost all cases, the Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Bolts will be reusable when
performing the service procedure below. Replacement bolts are not currently available.
If a vehicle is encountered with an unusable bolt, offer the customer courtesy
transportation. For in-stock units they must be held until a replacement bolt is available.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
Use the following steps to inspect, replace (if necessary) and tighten the lower control arm ball
joint attachment bolts.
1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in SI.

2327521
2. Locate the left and right lower control arm ball joint to steering knuckle retaining
bolts (1).
Caution: Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners must be the
correct part number for that application. Do not use paints, lubricants, or corrosion inhibitors on
fasteners, or fastener joint surfaces, unless specified. These coatings affect fastener torque
and joint clamping force and may damage the fastener. Use the correct specifications when
installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems.

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Bulletin No.: 14453

3960212
3. If the bolt is backed out of the steering knuckle, inspect the bolts for damage. If the bolt
appears to have any type of damage, remove and replace the bolt. Torque the bolt to
specification on all vehicles whether the bolt appears loose or not.

3960216
4. Using a torque wrench, tighten the left and right lower control arm ball joint to steering
knuckle retaining bolts. Tighten to 65 N-m (48 lb ft).
5. Lower the vehicle.
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
9100743

Description
Check and Retighten Control Arm Ball Joint Bolt

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION – For US and Canada
General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle.

Labor
Time
0.3

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Bulletin No.: 14453

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

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Bulletin No.: 14453