Service bulletin 03-005-21

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

NHTSA's summary

Rear Axle Vibration, Shudder Or Chatter This bulletin involves changing the rear axle lube to possibly address a chatter, shudder or vibration. The customer may describe the following:A chatter, shudder, or vibration from the rear axle during turns. This may happen more as the vehicle ages, especially if the vehicle is used extensively for towing or hauling heavy loads. The cause of the concern may be due to degradation of the rear axle fluid. It is very important to follow the routine maintenance schedules on these vehicles when it comes to changing the rear axlefluid if the vehicle is used primarily for towing or hauling heavy loads. If you experience a vehicle with the above condition, please perform the proper maintenance procedures for the rear axle and replace the fluid first before replacing any hardware components.This service bulletin is only applicable to vehicles that have no history of an axle fluid replacement. If the vehicle usage includes police, taxi, fleet, off-road or frequent trailer towing, regular axle fluid changes are required every3 years or 30,000 miles (whichever comes first) per the Maintenance Schedule in the vehicle Owner's Manual.

The document

• NHTSA's copy of the document (PDF)
• If that address does not open, try this one

The document is the manufacturer's. This site does not hold it. NHTSA files a document at one of these two addresses; we have not asked NHTSA which.

Components

Suspension, Trailer hitch

Listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned: the document says which.

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