The beauty of installing the entire kit is that there are multiple mechanical fasteners helping to hold the instrument panel in place. Yes, the U clips will directly clamp the vinyl/foam material to the substrate beneath, however the method in which the new defroster grille is installed also helps to clamp everthing tight. Having done the install there's no way I'd go that far and NOT affix the new defroster grille--regardless if I picked up some U-clips for free.
EDIT: There was never a recall to fix this issue; there was a campaign but only for owners who experienced the problem within the specfied time frame (which ended 3+ years ago).
Last edited by bigMoneyRacing; 01/27/06 01:53 PM.
