TSB: BLUE BIRD ALERO, BLUE BIRD, CADILLAC, DEVILLE, GRAND AM, MALIBU, SIERRA, SILVERADO (1999–2002)

Bulletin 171201 — December 17, 2001

Bulletin Details

Bulletin ID171201
ManufacturerBLUE BIRD
ModelsALERO, BLUE BIRD, CADILLAC, DEVILLE, GRAND AM, MALIBU, SIERRA, SILVERADO
Model Years1999–2002
Date IssuedDecember 17, 2001
Date Added to NHTSAJune 6, 2002
ComponentSTEERING
Vehicles Affected27 combinations

What is a TSB?

A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.

If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.

Summary

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A SQUEAK OR RATTLE EMANATING FROM THE FRONT END OR FRONT SUSPENSION ON THEIR FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK. *TT

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
OLDSMOBILE ALERO 2002 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
CADILLAC DEVILLE 2002 116200 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
PONTIAC GRAND AM 2002 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
CHEVROLET MALIBU 2002 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
GMC SIERRA 2002 010000 STEERING
CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2002 010000 STEERING
OLDSMOBILE ALERO 2001 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
CADILLAC DEVILLE 2001 116200 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
PONTIAC GRAND AM 2001 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
CHEVROLET MALIBU 2001 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
GMC SIERRA 2001 010000 STEERING
GMC SIERRA 2001 021000 SUSPENSION:FRONT
CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2001 010000 STEERING
CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2001 021000 SUSPENSION:FRONT
OLDSMOBILE ALERO 2000 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
CADILLAC DEVILLE 2000 116200 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
PONTIAC GRAND AM 2000 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
CHEVROLET MALIBU 2000 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
GMC SIERRA 2000 010000 STEERING
CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2000 010000 STEERING
OLDSMOBILE ALERO 1999 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
PONTIAC GRAND AM 1999 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
CHEVROLET MALIBU 1999 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
GMC SIERRA 1999 010000 STEERING
CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1999 010000 STEERING
BLUE BIRD BLUE BIRD 061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CADILLAC CADILLAC 061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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What Should You Do?

If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized BLUE BIRD dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (171201) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.

Frequently Asked Questions

A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.

If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.

Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.

This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.