NHTSA recall 04V129000
A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.
| Published by | NHTSA (United States) |
|---|---|
| Campaign number | 04V129000 |
| Manufacturer's number | 04007 |
| Manufacturer | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| Reported | 2004-03-17 |
| Owners notified | 2004-09-18 |
| Component | STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS |
| Units potentially affected | 3662211 |
What is wrong
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURE. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THE TAILGATE WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER.
What can happen
ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE. ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BUMPER REMOVED, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP EVEN LOWER. ADDITIONALLY, IF THERE IS CARGO ON THE TAILGATE THE CARGO MAY FALL OFF IF THE SUPPORT CABLES FRACTURE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CABLES. INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 20004. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004, WHEN REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR VISIT WWW.MYGMLINK.COM, AND ENTER YOUR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
Notes
GM RECALL NO. 04007.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
| 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT | Built 2000-10-01 to 2002-07-31. Listed as a series or trim of this model. |
|---|---|
| 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT | Built 2002-04-01 to 2003-07-31. Listed as a series or trim of this model. |
| 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT | Built 2003-03-01 to 2003-11-30. Listed as a series or trim of this model. |
| 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE | Built 2000-10-01 to 2002-07-31. |
| 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE | Built 2002-04-01 to 2003-07-31. |
| 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE | Built 2003-03-01 to 2003-11-30. |
| 2003 CHEVROLET KODIAK | Built 2002-04-01 to 2003-07-31. |
| 2004 CHEVROLET KODIAK | Built 2003-03-01 to 2003-11-30. |
| 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO | Built 1999-10-01 to 2000-07-31. |
| 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO | Built 2000-04-01 to 2000-10-31. |
| 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO | Built 2000-10-01 to 2002-07-31. |
| 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO | Built 2002-04-01 to 2003-07-31. |
| 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO | Built 2003-03-01 to 2003-11-30. |
| 2000 GMC SIERRA | Built 1999-10-01 to 2000-07-31. |
| 2001 GMC SIERRA | Built 2000-04-01 to 2000-10-31. |
| 2002 GMC SIERRA | Built 2000-10-01 to 2002-07-31. |
| 2003 GMC SIERRA | Built 2002-04-01 to 2003-07-31. |
| 2004 GMC SIERRA | Built 2003-03-01 to 2003-11-30. |
| 2003 GMC TOPKICK | Built 2002-04-01 to 2003-07-31. |
| 2004 GMC TOPKICK | Built 2003-03-01 to 2003-11-30. |
A vehicle with no link is not in this site's catalog, which covers cars, multipurpose vehicles and trucks by model year. The campaign is from data as of 2026-10-19.
Investigated as EA04005
This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.
| EA04005 | Engineering analysis, opened 2004-02-19, closed 2004-09-28. TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGE. LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH; STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE; STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. |
|---|
From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. The JSON has NHTSA's summary of each.
Bulletins for the same vehicles and component
| PIT3227S | 2023-06-13. Service bulletin. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. Please communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of their vehicle. |
|---|---|
| PIP5358B | 2022-06-13. Service bulletin. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance. |
| PIT3227R | 2022-05-16. Service bulletin. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. Please communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of their vehicle. |
| PIP5358A | 2021-06-14. Service bulletin. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance. |
| PI0281D | 2021-04-26. Service bulletin. Underbody Component Corrosion The following information may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers. Some customers may comment that one or more of their vehicle's underbody components are showing some form of corrosion. This corrosion may be red in appearance (rust) if the component is steel, forged iron or cast iron. This corrosion may also be grey or white in color if the component is constructed of an aluminum alloy. |
| PI0281D | 2021-04-26. Service bulletin. Underbody Component Corrosion The following information may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers. Some customers may comment that one or more of their vehicle's underbody components are showing some form of corrosion. This corrosion may be red in appearance (rust) if the component is steel, forged iron or cast iron. This corrosion may also be grey or white in color if the component is constructed of an aluminum alloy. |
| 23-015-20 | 2020-05-26. Service bulletin. Disinfectant Solution Recommended for COVID-19 |
| PIT3227P | 2019-03-18. Service bulletin. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. Please communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of their vehicle. |
| PIT5570B | 2018-12-17. Service bulletin. This Preliminary Information communication provides the technician with weight capacity for the tailgate and cargo loops in the bed. |
| PIT3946C | 2018-12-17. Service bulletin. This Preliminary Information communicates an issues with the headliner sagging and how to reattach the velcro using Hardman Double Bubble Epoxy part number 04001. |
A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.