NHTSA Complaint #10093778 — 1994 GMC 1500

1994 GMC SIERRA PICKUP ([XXX]) GM HAS 2 RECALLS FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR PROBLEMS ON 1994 AND NEWER PICKUPS AND SUVS (RECALL 98043 AND SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT 02054A). MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM NOTED IN THE RECALLS: INTERMITTENT WIPER OPERATION RESULTING FROM CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE WIPER MOTOR CONTROL'S PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AT ITS CONNECTION TO THE WIRING HARNESS. BUT, BECAUSE MY VIN DOES NOT MATCH THOSE IN THE RECALL, I AM LEFT TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM ON MY OWN. I HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH THIS FOR A FEW YEARS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR MONEY TO FIX IT. AND, MY BRIEF INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS NUMEROUS OTHER GM OWNERS IN THE SAME SITUATION ... THE SAME PROBLEM IDENTIFIED IN THE RECALL BUT LEFT IN THE COLD BY GM BECAUSE OF VIN NUMBER EXCLUSIONS. MY CALL TO GM REVEALED THAT THE RECALL WAS LIMITED TO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AT CERTAIN PLANTS, BECAUSE ONLY THOSE PLANTS USED PARTS FROM "DEFECTIVE BATCHES." THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM (BAD SOLDER JOINTS) SEEMS TO ME A DESIGN ISSUE (FAILURE TO MITIGATE VIBRATION, TOO RIGID A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE WIRING CONNECTOR AND PCB?), NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT (BAD BATCH OF MATERIAL, IMPROPERLY SOLDERED JOINT?). SAME SYMPTOMS RESULTING FROM THE SAME FAILURE ON THE SAME PART WITH THE SAME PART NUMBER? WHEN I PRESSED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. ON THIS QUESTION (VIN NUMBER AND PARTS BATCH ARE IRRELEVANT IF IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, WHICH I THINK IT IS), I GOT THE PROVERBIAL RUN-AROUND. AND, MY WIPERS STILL DON'T WORK. *NM UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)