Anyone who lives in these areas already knows this is a good idea, but this time there are facts to back up the truism than "salt eats cars." GM and NHTSA, along with the Pennsylvania DOT worked for four years to determine if a recall was necessary. One will not be issued, but a close read of the full report is sure to get the attention of anyone who has a vehicle from this time span operating in states where salt is used, or even nearby states.
The key parts of the NHTSA Advisory, which you can read here, are the following:
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Maintain their vehicle and prevent corrosion by washing the undercarriage regularly throughout the winter and giving it a thorough washing in the spring to remove road salt and other de-icing chemicals that can lead to corrosion.
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Monitor the brake system for signs of corrosion by having regular professional inspections and watching for signs of problems, including loss of brake fluid, unusual leaks and a soft or spongy feel in the brake pedal.
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Address severe corrosion, marked by flaking or scaling of the metal brake pipes, by having the full assembly replaced.
NHTSA's Administrator Mark Rosekind said, "If you own an older vehicle and live in a cold-weather state where salt and de-icing chemicals are common in winter, we strongly urge you to take these steps.”
The upshot of the report is that studies confirmed that brake tube failure can and does occur in some instances where vehicles are exposed to salt. The complete study can be read here. States listed by NHTSA for special attention are: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West
Virginia and Wisconsin.
Photo by Zane Merva
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