CAMPAIGN: SEATBACK HINGE MECHANISM
Model and Year: 1990 CHEVROLET GEO STORM 2+2 SPORT COUPE
The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, provides that each vehicle which is subject to a recall campaign of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the owner has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within sixty (60) 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 owner 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 to provide these burdensome solutions, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each owner and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the letter that is being sent to owners, the owners are being instructed to contact the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five (5) days of the mutually agreed upon service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, they are instructed on how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
DEFECT INVOLVED
General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1990 Chevrolet Geo Storm 2+2 Sport Coupe model vehicles. When using the front seatback release levers to tip the front seatback forward and to gain entry to, or exit from, the rear seat, it is possible to insert a finger into the seatback hinge mechanism. This exposes the finger to a potential pinch point which may result in a serious injury to the finger.
To prevent this condition from occurring, the seatback mechanism will be modified to prevent fingers from being inserted in the seatback hinge area. Caution labels will be shipped to dealers and customers to be installed on the seats until parts are available and installed on the vehicle.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1990 Chevrolet Geo Storm 2+2 Sport Coupe model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:
MODEL/YEAR PLANT FROM THROUGH ---------- ----- ---- ------- R 1990 Fujisawa LR500191 LR513686
Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. Computer listings contain the complete Vehicle Identification Number, owner name and address data, and are furnished to involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Owner name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with owners involved in this campaign.
These listings may contain owner names and addresses obtained from State Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose is a violation of law in several states. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.
OWNER NOTIFICATION
Owners will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by Chevrolet Motor Division (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin). Caution labels will also be included with the owner Notification letter.
DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY
Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.
Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used vehicle inventory, or it is in your dealership for service in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.
Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required correction according to instructions contained in this bulletin.
PARTS INFORMATION
Parts required to complete this campaign will be available on or about October 24, 1989 and will be shipped directly to dealers.
Quantity/ Part Number Description Vehicle ---------- ----------- ------- NPN Kit - Front seatback stationary 1 hinge metal protector
SERVICE PROCEDURE
THE FOLLOWING SERVICE PROCEDURE IS TO BE PERFORMED ON BOTH FRONT SEATS OF INVOLVED VEHICLES.
1. Check contents of kit -
1 - Hinge protector "L" - Driver's side. 1 - Hinge protector "R" - Passenger's side. 3 - #8 x 3/8" Self tapping screws (2 needed, 1 spare).
2. Being careful to keep fingers clear of seatback hinge area, rotate seatback to forward most tilted position.
NOTICE: Caution in Main View shows area to avoid placing fingers.
3. Install metal protector to the stationary lower portion of the hinge by rotating it upward & forward until in position as shown in View B.
4. Attach cardboard, or similar protective covering, to seatback adjacent to the hinge in the area likely to contact drill during drilling operation (see Main View).
5. Center punch hole location through hole in protector.
6. Remove metal protector and verify punch mark is located so as to permit hole to be drilled clear of the flange section of the stationary lower portion of the hinge.
7. Once proper location has been verified, drill a 5/32" diameter hole through the stationary lower portion of the hinge.
NOTICE: To prevent metal chips from entering the seat reclining mechanism, insert a stiff piece of paper, such as a shipping tag, between the stationary and moving hinge parts in the area where the drill will break through.
8. Reinstall metal protector over the stationary lower portion of the hinge (see View B) and attach metal protector to the stationary hinge using a #8 x 3/8" screw (supplied in kit) as shown in View A.
9. Clean up any metal chips created by drilling from the seat back mechanism, track rail and carpet.
10. Carefully adjust seatback to the forward most position and then to the fully reclined position to assure that neither the inserted screw nor the metal protector interfere with movement of the seatback.
11. Return seatback to upright position and remove caution label and protective cardboard from seat.
12. Install Campaign Identification Label.
CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL
Each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin will require a "Campaign Identification Label." Each label provides a space to include 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.
Each "Campaign Identification Label" is to be located on the radiator core support in an area which will be visible when the vehicle is brought in for periodic servicing by the owner.
Apply "Campaign Identification Label" only on a clean dry surface.
CLAIM INFORMATION
Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:
* ** FAILED PARTS CC-FC LABOR LAB OTH NET REPAIR PERFORMED PC PART NO. ALLOW OP HRS HRS AMT ---------------- -- -------- ----- ----- -- --- --- ---
Install protector SK-00 V5680 0.3 0.3 $0.82 kit
*Other hours: Campaign Administrative Allowance (.1 hr.). Caution label installation (.2 hrs.) per letter dated October 19, 1989.
** The $0.82 identified in the "Net Amount" column represents 30% of cost for parts used in conjunction with labor operation V5680.
Dealers will automatically receive the correct labor and material allowance based on the labor operation performed.
Refer to the Chevrolet Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
REASON FOR THIS RECALL
General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1990 Chevrolet Geo Storm 2+2 Sport Coupe model vehicles. When using the front seatback release levers to tip the front seatback forward and gain entry to, or exit from, the rear seat, it is possible to insert a finger into the seatback hinge mechanism. This exposes the finger to a potential pinch point which may result in a serious injury to the finger.
WHAT WE WILL DO
To prevent this condition from occurring, the seatback mechanism will be modified to prevent fingers from being inserted in the seatback hinge area. This service will be performed for you at no charge.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
WHEN OPERATING SEATBACK MECHANISM, BE SURE AT ALL TIMES TO KEEP FINGERS CLEAR OF THE SEATBACK RELEASE MECHANISM OPENINGS.
A caution label for each front seat has been included with this letter. Install these labels above the seatback release mechanism on the seat corners, wrapping the label around the side and back of the seats (see figure on page 2). The label should be left in place until the above correction has been made by your dealer.
Please contact your Chevrolet dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. It is estimated that parts and instructions will be available on or about November 6, 1989. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle. The labor time necessary to perform this service correction is approximately 15 minutes.
IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM; PLEASE CONTACT THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-222-1020.
Your Chevrolet dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service to insure that your vehicle is corrected as promptly as possible. If, however, you take your vehicle to your dealer on the agreed service date, and they do not remedy this condition on that date or within five (5) days, we recommend you contact the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center by calling 1-800-222-1020.
After contacting your dealer and the Customer Assistance Center, if you are still not satisfied that we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge and within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington D.C. residents use 366-0123).
The enclosed owner reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage paid reply card and returning it to us.
We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.
General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, do not assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.
