Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint (Chevrolet, GMC and Oldsmobile)
Vehicle safety improvement campaign 01I-018. NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Dec 4, 2001.
- NHTSA: a safety improvement campaign, not a safety recall
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The short answer
NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Dec 4, 2001. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 26, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
NHTSA files this as a safety improvement campaign, not a safety recall.
NHTSA’s records of these campaigns say each is “not a safety recall”, but is “deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency”. What’s wrong and the fix are below, in NHTSA’s words.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.
THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT.
HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1996-1997 4-WHEEL DRIVE CHEVROLET BLAZER, GMC JIMMY, AND OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES.
SOME OWNERS HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS THAT HAVE SEPARATED.
GM IS PROVIDING A SPECIAL POLICY TO THESE OWNERS TO COVER UPPER BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT IF THE CUSTOMER FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR THE CHASSIS LUBRICATION AND THE VEHICLE STILL REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS DUE TO SEPARATION.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint.
What should you do?
GM HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. THIS SPECIAL POLICY IS FOR A PERIOD OF 8 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST, FROM THE DATE THE VHEICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED IN SERVICE, REGARDLESS OF OWNERSHIP. THE UPPER BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT, DUE TO SEPARATION, WILL BE MADE AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER DURING THIS PERIOD. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-862-4389, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, CONCERNING THIS PROGRAM.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones does it cover?
NHTSA counts 0 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.
- Chevrolet Blazerand 1996 and 1997, before the model years listed here
- GMC Jimmyand 1996 and 1997, before the model years listed here
- Oldsmobile Bravadaand 1996 and 1997, before the model years listed here
Who is running it?
- Made by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
- This campaign names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 26, 2026 and checked Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 26, 2026.