F/CMVSS Noncompliance - Front Seat Belt Retractor Noncompliance

Since the inspection procedure in this recall can be performed quickly and easily, and to reduce the inconvenience to the customer, when a customer brings their vehicle into your dealership for this recall, if at all possible, have this inspection performed on the vehicle immediately so that the customer does not have to leave their vehicle at the dealership. If you confirm proper retractor lockup, GM recommends that you demonstrate to the customer that the retractor locks properly.

General Motors has decided that certain 2002 model year Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, and Oldsmobile Bravada vehicles fail to conform to Federal/Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 209, Seat Belt Assemblies. These vehicles have a condition where one of the two sensors in the driver's and front passenger's seat belt retractors may be inoperative. The seat belt retractors will lock when the belt webbing is extracted during a crash; however, the mechanism that locks the seat belt retractor when the vehicle decelerates quickly, such as during heavy braking, may not operate as intended. If this were to occur, the seat belt may not restrain the occupant as intended during a crash, and could result in injury to the occupant.

Dealers are to inspect the driver and front passenger seat belt retractors, and replace them if necessary. Since the inspection is easy to perform, and to reduce customer inconvenience, customer will be sent an inspection procedure with instructions to contact their dealer if a seat belt retractor does not lock while performing the inspection. However, if they desire, they can take their vehicle to their dealer for the inspection.

Involved are certain 2002 model year Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, and Oldsmobile Bravada vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints:

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) prior to beginning recall repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.]

For US

For dealers with involved vehicles, a Campaign Initiation Detail Report containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data has been prepared and will be loaded to the GM DealerWorld, Recall Information website. Dealers that have no involved vehicles currently assigned will not have a report available in GM DealerWorld.

For Canada & IPC

For dealers with involved vehicles, a Campaign Initiation Detail Report containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data has been prepared and is being furnished to involved dealers. Dealers that have no involved vehicles currently assigned will not receive a report with the recall bulletin.

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

Since there are 8 different versions of seat belts used in this field action and an extremely small number of vehicles that will require the retractor replacement (less than 50 worldwide ), part numbers are not listed in this bulletin and dealer listings are not broken down by color. Dealers are encouraged not to order recall parts for use as shelf stock. Parts should only be ordered when inspection determines that it is necessary to replace a seat belt retractor.

Inspection Procedure

Important: Read the following three steps completely before attempting the procedure.

Perform the following inspection procedure on the driver's and front passenger seat belts.

1. Open the driver's door and buckle the seat belt .



2. Using your RIGHT hand, begin SLOWLY pulling the seat belt out of the seat back. When you have pulled out approximately 12 inches, firmly strike the inboard side of the head restraint with your LEFT hand while continuing to slowly pull out the seat belt.

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If the seat belt locked up and stopped you from pulling the seat belt out in one continuous motion, the locking feature is working as designed and the seat belt does not need to be replaced. Repeat this inspection procedure on the passenger seat belt using your LEFT hand for pulling the seat belt and your RIGHT hand for striking the head restraint.

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If the seat belt did not lock up and you were able to pull the seat belt out in one continuous motion, the seat belt retractor requires replacement. Repeat this inspection procedure on the passenger seat belt using your LEFT hand for pulling the seat belt and your RIGHT hand for striking the head restraint.

3. If both the driver and passenger front safety belts lock when performing the inspection, no further action is required. If any of the seat belts did not lock up, refer to the Seat Belt Retractor Replacement procedure, and replace the applicable retractor.

Seat Belt Retractor Replacement

Important: The service procedure contained in this recall is different from the service procedure found in the appropriate service manual. As a result, the labor time allowance has been revised to correspond with this new service procedure. In the near future the service manual and labor time guide will be updated with this new information.

Important: For US and Canada: all replaced seat belt retractors are to be held until a return request is received from the GM Warranty Parts Center (WPC).

Important: Do not remove the seat from the vehicle when performing the following procedure.

1. Remove the SIR fuse.
2. Disconnect the side impact air bag electrical connector located under the seat.
3. If equipped, remove the lumbar knob and/or seat back recliner screw and handle.



4. Remove the screws attaching the seat switch bezel and reposition the bezel.



5. Remove the outer trim panel attaching screws and remove the panel from the side of the seat cushion.



6. Remove the seat belt anchor nut.



7. Remove the screw that attaches the seat belt bezel to the seat back.
8. Remove the seat belt material from the bezel.



9. Release the J-strips (1, 4) across the bottom of the seat back cover.
10. Remove the push pins (3) securing the seat cover (2) to the seat frame.
11. Remove the head restraint.



12. Using a flat-bladed tool, carefully disengage the plastic strips or channels that retain the seat back cover to the side impact airbag module.
13. Carefully remove the seat back cover from behind the trim edge of side impact air bag module.




Important: When separating the seat cover hook and loop retaining strip in the next step, do not pull the adhesive-backed strip from the pad.

14. Using a side-to-side motion, carefully lift off the seat back cover, partially separating the seat back cover from the foam pad.
15. From the bottom of the seat back, place your hand up the front side of the seat back cover and release the hook and loop fasteners that attach the seat back cover to the foam pad.
16. Starting at the bottom of the seat back, remove the seat back cover by pulling the cover upwards. The bottom of the cover should be turning inside out as the cover rolls upwards.

Important: Do not remove the three hog rings that attach the cover to the foam pad.

17. Continue pulling the seat back cover upwards until the top of the seat belt retractor is accessible.
18. If equipped, disconnect the seat back heating element electrical connector.



19. Remove the two head restraint retainers from the top of the seat back.



20. Reposition the cover and pad as necessary.
21. Remove the four push-in fasteners that attach the seat back panel to the seat back frame.



22. Remove the seat belt from the upper retractor bracket by sliding it through the slot.



23. Remove the bolt (1) attaching the upper seat belt bracket to the seat frame.
24. Remove the push-in fastener (2) from the retractor.



25. Remove the lower retractor bolt from the retractor.



26. Remove the seat belt upper bracket and retractor assembly from the seat.
27. Install the new seat belt retractor and original bracket on the seat back frame.
28. Apply threadlocker to the upper retractor bolt and install.

Tighten
Tighten the bolt to 55 N·m (40 lb ft).

29. Install the push-in fastener to attach the retractor to the seat back frame.
30. Apply threadlocker to the lower retractor bolt and install.

Tighten
Tighten the bolt to 55 N·m (40 lb ft).

31. Install the seat belt webbing material into the slot in the upper bracket.
32. Install the seat back panel and four push-in fasteners.
33. Reposition the pad and cover.
34. If equipped, connect the seat back heating element electrical connector.
35. Position the seat back cover over the top of the seat back and begin pulling it down over the seat back.
36. Position and install the seat back cover around the side impact air bag module.
37. Install the head restraint retainers.
38. Install the head restraint.
39. Install the push pins that secure the bottom of the seat back cover to the seat back frame.
40. Connect the J-strip at the bottom of the seat cover.
41. Install the seat belt bezel to the seat belt material, position on the top of the seat back and install the attaching screw.

Tighten
Tighten the screw to 6 N·m (53 lb in).

42. Install the seat belt anchor and nut to the seat adjuster.

Tighten
Tighten the nut to 52 N·m (38 lb ft).

43. Install the outer trim panel to the side of the seat cushion and install the screws.

Tighten
Tighten the screws to 3 N·m (26 lb in).

44. Reposition the seat switch bezel to the side of the seat cushion and install the screws.

Tighten
Tighten the screws to 3 N·m (26 lb in).

45. If equipped, install the lumbar support knob.
46. If equipped, install the recliner handle and screw.

Tighten
Tighten the screw to 3 N·m (26 lb in).

47. Connect the side impact air bag electrical connector under the seat.
48. Install the SIR fuse.
49. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position and verify that the SIR light flashes seven times and goes out.
50. For US and Canada : All replaced seat belt retractors are to be held until a return request is received from the GM Warranty Parts Center (WPC).

The General Motors Courtesy Transportation program is intended to minimize customer inconvenience when a vehicle requires a repair that is covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The availability of courtesy transportation to customers whose vehicles are within the warranty coverage period and involved in a product recall is very important in maintaining customer satisfaction. Dealers are to ensure that these customers understand that shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation is available and will be provided at no charge. Dealers should refer to the General Motors Service Policies and Procedures Manual for Courtesy Transportation guidelines.

Submit a Product Recall Claim with the information indicated below:

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

General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicles (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

Letters will be sent to known owners of record located within areas covered by the US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. For owners outside these areas, dealers should notify customers using the attached suggested dealer letter.

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle that is subject to a recall 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 notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the recall is not completed within a reasonable time.

This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this recall 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 recall correction, your dealership may be subject to a civil penalty for each such sale.

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

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this recall 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. Recall 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 recall enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

Important: Read the following three steps completely before attempting the procedure.

1. Open the driver's door and BUCKLE THE SAFETY BELT (without an occupant in the seat).
2. Using your RIGHT hand, begin SLOWLY pulling the seat belt out of the seat back. When you have pulled out approximately 12 inches, firmly strike the inboard side of the head restraint (head rest) with your LEFT hand several times, while continuing to slowly pull out the safety belt (see illustration below).



3. Did the safety belt lock up and stop you from pulling the safety belt out in one continuous motion?

YES -- If the seat belt locked up and stopped you from pulling the seat belt out in one continuous motion, the locking feature is working as designed and the seat belt does not need to be replaced.

NO -- If the seat belt did not lock up and you were able to pull the seat belt out in one continuous motion, you should contact your GM dealer to make arrangements to have the safety belt inspected, and replaced if necessary.

Repeat this procedure on the passenger safety belt using your LEFT hand for pulling the safety belt and your RIGHT hand for striking the head restraint (head rest). If both the driver and passenger front safety belts lock when performing the inspection, the locking feature on both safety belts operate as designed. Check the box marked "Other" on the enclosed customer reply form, write in "Completed" on the line, and mail the form back to us. Returning the form will allow us to update our records and you will not be contacted again regarding this matter.

Dear General Motors Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Federal regulation requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days.

General Motors has decided that certain 2002 model year Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, and Oldsmobile Bravada vehicles fail to conform to Federal/Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 209, Seat Belt Assemblies. These vehicles have a condition where one of the two sensors in the driver's and front passenger's seat belt retractors may be inoperative. The seat belt retractors will lock when the belt webbing is extracted during a crash; however, the mechanism that locks the seat belt retractor when the vehicle decelerates quickly, such as during heavy braking, may not operate as intended. If this were to occur, the seat belt may not restrain the occupant as intended during a crash, and could result in injury to the occupant.

Your GM dealer will inspect the driver and front passenger safety belt retractors, and replace them if necessary. Since the inspection is easy to perform, and to reduce any inconvenience to you, we have included the inspection procedure with this letter. However, if you desire, you can take your vehicle to your dealer for the inspection.

If you decide to inspect the safety belts yourself, and you find that a safety belt retractor does not lock while performing the inspection, you should contact your GM dealer to make arrangements to have the safety belt inspected, and replaced if necessary. This service will be performed for you at no charge . If both safety belt retractors lock up, your safety belts are working as designed and no replacement is necessary. To remove your name from our list so that you won't be contacted about this again, please check the box marked "Other" on the enclosed customer reply form and mail it back to us.

This inspection will take approximately 15 minutes. Another 40 minutes to 1 hr and 15 minutes will be required if the safety belts retractor(s) need replacement. However, due to service scheduling requirements, your dealer may need your vehicle for a longer period of time.

If you decide to have your dealer perform the inspection, contact them as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer. Your dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide services to correct your vehicle as promptly as possible. Should your dealer be unable to schedule a service date within a reasonable time, you should contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the listed number below. The Customer Assistance Center's hours of operation are from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM, EST, Monday through Friday.

If, after contacting the appropriate customer assistance center, 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 SW, Washington, DC 20590 or call 1-888-327-4236.

The enclosed customer reply form identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this form to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction in the shortest possible time. If you no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by completing the enclosed form and mailing it back to us.

If your vehicle is within the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, your dealer will provide you with shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation while your vehicle is at the dealership for this repair. Please refer to your Owner's Manual and your dealer for details on Courtesy Transportation.

More information about this recall (including answers to frequently asked questions) is available online at the Owner Center at My GMLink. This free online service offers vehicle and ownership related information and tools tailored to your specific vehicle. To join, visit www.mygmlink.com , and enter your vehicle's 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) shown on the enclosed form to get the most personalized information for your vehicle.

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 Corporation

Enclosure

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