TSB: ACURA ALERO, CAVALIER, MALIBU, MDX, SUNFIRE, TRAILER (1999–2003)
Bulletin 030603 — March 6, 2003
Bulletin Details
| Bulletin ID | 030603 |
| Manufacturer | ACURA |
| Models | ALERO, CAVALIER, MALIBU, MDX, SUNFIRE, TRAILER |
| Model Years | 1999–2003 |
| Date Issued | March 6, 2003 |
| Date Added to NHTSA | August 11, 2003 |
| Component | SUSPENSION |
| Vehicles Affected | 10 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
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PRODUCT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM AFFECTING MODEL TH55 GOOSENECKS WHICH COULD CRACK PREMATURELY IN THE WEB SECTION OF THE STRUCTURAL MEMBER. *TT
Affected Vehicles
| Make | Model | Year | Component |
|---|---|---|---|
| OLDSMOBILE | ALERO | 2003 | 138120 VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT |
| CHEVROLET | MALIBU | 2003 | 138120 VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT |
| ACURA | MDX | 2003 | 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| OLDSMOBILE | ALERO | 2002 | 138120 VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT |
| CHEVROLET | CAVALIER | 2002 | 103000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION |
| CHEVROLET | MALIBU | 2002 | 138120 VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT |
| ACURA | MDX | 2002 | 020000 SUSPENSION |
| PONTIAC | SUNFIRE | 2002 | 103000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION |
| CHEVROLET | MALIBU | 2001 | 138120 VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT |
| FONTAINE | TRAILER | 1999 | 160000 STRUCTURE |
Related ACURA Recalls
What Should You Do?
If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized ACURA dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (030603) 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.