F/CMVSS Noncompiance 99093 - Vehicle Headlamp Aiming Device Vertical Indicators

General Motors has decided that certain 1998-99 Buick Century and Regal model vehicles fail to conform to U.S. and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (MVSS) for lighting FMVSS 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment," CMVSS 108, "Lighting System and Retroflective Devices." The vertical vehicle headlamp aiming device (VHAD) may not meet the photometric aim requirements of the standard at several measured locations. Also, the VHAD vertical adjustment bubble does not maintain consistent positioning due to thermal instability.

An insert containing instructions for optically aiming the headlamps will be provided for the owner's manual. Since the insert can easily be installed, and to reduce customer inconvenience, the insert will be sent directly to owners of record. Dealers are responsible for installing the insert in the owner's manual for any unsold units. Customers should follow the procedure in the insert for headlamp aim adjustment, rather than using the vertical VHAD indicator.

Important: The vehicle headlamp aim was set correctly at the factory and should not need to be adjusted unless it is affected by accident damage.

Dealers will place an owner's manual insert in the owner's manual containing instructions for optically aiming the headlamps.

Important: The vehicle headlamp aim was set correctly at the factory and should not need to be adjusted unless it is affected by accident damage.

Involved are certain 1998-99 Buick Century and Regal model vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints:

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) or GM Access Screen (Canada only) or DCS Screen 445 (IPC only) before beginning campaign repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.]

Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number. Computer listings containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data have been prepared, and are being furnished to involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. The customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

These dealer listings may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose is a violation of law in several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this campaign.

Owner's manual inserts are being sent directly to owners of record. Each dealer has been sent a quantity of owner's manual inserts with this bulletin for installation in dealer's current "in-stock" vehicle inventory. If additional inserts are required, please photocopy one of the inserts sent to you with this bulletin.

Each affected dealer has been sent a quantity of owner's manual inserts with this bulletin. If additional inserts are required, please photocopy one of the inserts sent to you with this bulletin.

1. For all vehicles, place the insert in the owner's manual between the front cover and the first page of the manual.
2. Install the GM Campaign Identification Label.

Place a Campaign Identification Label on each vehicle in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin. Each label provides a space to include the campaign number and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.

Put the Campaign Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. When installing the Campaign Identification Label, be sure to pull the tab to allow the adhesion of the clear protective covering. Additional Campaign Identification Labels for US dealers can be obtained from Dealer Support Materials by calling 1-888-549-6152 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

Place a Campaign Identification Label on each vehicle in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin. Each label provides a space to include the campaign number and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.

Put the Campaign Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. Additional Campaign Identification Labels for Canadian dealers can be obtained from DGN by calling 1-800-668-5539 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number GMP 91 when ordering.

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:

Refer to the General Motors WINS Claim Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

Customers will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

FOR US (US States, Territories, and Possessions)

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle that is subject to a recall campaign of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the customer has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within sixty days after tender of a vehicle is prima facie evidence of failure to repair within a reasonable time. If the condition is not adequately repaired within a reasonable time, the customer may be entitled to an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle at no charge or to a refund of the purchase price less a reasonable allowance for depreciation. To avoid having these burdensome remedies, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. In the recall campaign notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the campaign is not completed within a reasonable time.

This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this campaign may not comply with the standard identified above. Under Title 49, Section 30112 of the United States Code, it is illegal for a dealer to sell a new motor vehicle which the dealer knows does not comply with an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. As a consequence, if you sell any of these motor vehicles without first performing the campaign correction, your dealership may be subject to a civil penalty for each such sale.

ALL

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this campaign MUST be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this campaign bulletin BEFORE customers take possession of these vehicles.

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to customers, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Customers who have recently purchased vehicles sold from your vehicle inventory, and for which there is no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer. Arrangements are to be made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such customers a copy of the customer letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the customer may not as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

Dear General Motors Customer:

General Motors has decided that certain 1998-99 Buick Century and Regal model vehicles fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard CMVSS 108, "Lighting System and Retroflective Devices." The vertical vehicle headlamp aiming device (VHAD) may not be calibrated properly. With the vertical VHAD set to zero, the vehicle headlamp may not meet the photometric aim requirements of the standard at several measured locations. Also, the VHAD vertical adjustment bubble does not maintain consistent positioning due to thermal instability.

(For Canada) Your GM dealer will place an owner's manual insert in the owner's manual containing instructions for optically aiming the headlamps.

(For U.S./IPC) An insert containing instructions for optically aiming the headlamps will be provided for the owner's manual. Since the insert can easily be installed, and to reduce customer inconvenience, the insert will be sent directly to owners of record. Dealers are responsible for installing the insert in the owner's manual for any unsold units. Customers should follow the procedure in the insert for headlamp aim adjustment, rather than using the vertical VHAD indicator.

Important: The vehicle headlamp aim was correctly set at the factory and should not need to be adjusted unless it is affected by accident damage.

This service will be provided for you at no charge.

You may be contacted by a dealer other than the dealer who sold or is currently servicing your vehicle. Please be advised that you may take your vehicle to the General Motors dealership of your choice to have the recall service work completed. Please contact your dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date.

This letter identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this letter to your dealer will assist their service personnel in completing the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time.

We sincerely regret any inconvenience this causes you; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

Customer Support Department

General Motors of Canada Limited