ARB Negotiates Voluntary Recall of GM Trucks
9 January 1998
ARB Negotiates Voluntary Recall of GM Trucks
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 9 -- General Motors has voluntarily
agreed to recall and repair 1,200 1995 model year light duty pickup trucks
that failed to meet California air pollution standards, the California Air
Resources Board (ARB) announced today.
"While the number of vehicles is small, this action reinforces our stance
that all vehicles on the road must meet the emissions standards set for them,"
said ARB Chairman John Dunlap.
The recall targets 1995 Chevrolet and GMC two-wheel drive "S" series
pickup trucks with 4.3 liter engines. The effected vehicles are Chevrolet S-10
pickups and GMC Sonoma pickups.
In tests required by the ARB, these vehicles were shown to be emitting
about 25 percent more oxides of nitrogen (NOx) than state standard permits.
The recall will result in the trucks being adjusted to drop them about
25 percent below the state standard for NOx. NOx is one of the main
contributors to photo-chemical ozone or smog.
Owners of these vehicles are receiving notices in the mail to bring them
to dealerships to be repaired free of charge. The repair, which involves
electronic recalibration of a small computer in the vehicle, should take about
30 minutes or less.
The emissions problem was found through routine testing GM carries out on
its vehicles as part of an agreement with ARB. In testing the pickup trucks
after they had been in use GM found the emissions problem and reported it to
ARB. The voluntary recall agreement was then worked out between ARB and GM.
The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental
Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health,
welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air
pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB
oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and
maintain health based air quality standards.
SOURCE Air Resources Board
