CAMPAIGN: SEATBELT LATCH PLATE MAY NOT ENGAGE OR RELEASE
Subject: PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 91C11 SEAT BELT LATCHPLATES
Model and Year: 1991 CHEVROLET CAMARO
To: All Chevrolet Dealers
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 certain 1991 Chevrolet Camaro model vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor, Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) '209, "Seat Belt Assemblies". The seat belt latchplates in these vehicles (front & rear in coupes; front only in convertibles) may not engage or release from the buckle assemblies because the latchplate is too wide. In the event of a vehicle crash, unbelted or improperly belted occupants are more at risk of injury than those using seat belts properly.
To prevent this potential condition, we are asking owners to perform an inspection procedure to determine if their vehicle has the described condition, or have a dealer perform the inspection. If an owner discovers this latchplate condition exists, dealers are to replace the suspect retractor side safety belt assemblies (which include latchplates) at no charge to the owner.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1991 Chevrolet Camaro model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:
PLANT YEAR MODEL PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH ---- ------------ -------- ----- -------- -------- 1991 F-Car (Coupe) Van Nuys "L" ML132380 ML159728
1991 F-Car (Conv.) " " " ML132379 ML164281
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).
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.
This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this campaign may not comply with the standard identified above. Under Section 108 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 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 up to $1,000 for each such sale.
PARTS INFORMATION
Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). To ensure these parts will be obtained as soon as possible, they should be ordered from GMSPO on a "C.I.O." order with no special instruction code, but on an advise code (2).
NOTICE: Due to the small number of vehicles involved in this campaign, parts should only be ordered after inspection has verified that this condition exists on an involved vehicle. Please do not order "stock" parts of these assemblies.
Quantity/ Part Number Description Vehicle ----------- ------------------------------- ------------- (COUPES)
12500488 Belt Assembly - Black - Passenger (1) As Required
12500487 " " - " - Driver " " "
12503618 " " - " - Right Rear " " "
12503619 " " - " - Left Rear " " "
12500489 Belt Assembly - Med. Beechwood (1) As Required - Passenger
12500490 Belt Assembly - " " " " " - Driver
12503620 Belt Assembly - " " " " " - Right Rear
12503621 Belt Assembly - " " " " " - Left Rear
12500492 Belt Assembly - Flame Red (1) As Required - Passenger
12500491 Belt Assembly - " " " " " - Driver
12503622 Belt Assembly - Flame Red (1) As Required - Right Rear
12503623 Belt Assembly - " " " " " - Left Rear
12500494 Belt Assembly - Med. Dark Grey (1) As Required - Passenger
12500493 Belt Assembly - " " " " " - Driver
12503624 Belt Assembly - " " " " " - Right Rear
12503625 Belt Assembly - " " " " " - Left Rear
(CONVERTIBLES)
12500230 Belt Assembly - Black - Passenger (1) As Required
12500231 " " - " - Driver " " "
12500232 Belt Assembly - Med. Beechwood (1) As Required - Passenger
12500233 Belt Assembly - " " " " " - Driver
12500236 Belt Assembly - Flame Red (1) As Required - Passenger
12500237 Belt Assembly - " " " " " - Driver
12500234 Belt Assembly - Med. Dark Grey (1) As Required - Passenger
12500235 Belt Assembly - " " " " " " - Driver
SERVICE PROCEDURE
For vehicles which are sold units, ask the vehicle owner whether he has inspected all of the vehicle's safety belts. If he has, ask him to describe any difficulties he may have had in latching or unlatching each of the belts. If the owner has noted a problem, perform the campaign repair procedure described below on the belt or belts with the described problem.
If the owner has not inspected his own belts, or if he is unsure about his inspection (and for dealer in-stock units), perform the inspection as described below to determine if a repair is necessary.
INSPECTION
1. Without sitting in the seat, buckle each safety belt. You should hear an audible click which indicates that the latch is buckled.
Then, push the red release button. The latchplate should pop right out.
A problem exists if:
- The seat belt cannot be buckled at all; or
- The latchplate does not pop right out when the red release button is pressed.
2. If no problems are found during the belt inspection, no replacement is necessary. Install the Campaign Identification Label and return the vehicle to the customer or to dealer stock.
If any of the belts had either of the problems described in the inspection procedure, replace the retractor side safety belt assembly for that belt, using the procedure described below.
REPLACEMENT
1. First check the buckle to be sure that there are no foreign objects (such as a penny or gum wrapper) interfering with its operation. If you find a foreign object, replace the buckle side of the assembly first. Then check the belt system again, using the inspection procedure set out above.
If the problem no longer exists, there is no need to replace the retractor side of the assembly. If there are no foreign objects in the buckle, or if the problem still exists after the buckle has been replaced, go onto the next step.
2. Replace the retractor side of the safety belt system, following the procedure found in the 1991 Chevrolet Camaro Service Manual (pages 10-10-2 through 10-10-4 for coupes; pages 10-10-5 through 10-10-6 for convertibles).
When you are through, be certain to test the newly installed belt to assure that it works properly.
3. 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 on the next page:
* FAILED PARTS CC-FC LABOR LAB OTH REPAIR PERFORMED PC PART NO. ALLOW OP HRS HRS ------------------ ----- --------- ------ ------- ------ ---- --- Inspect All Belts No Replacements - - - - - SK-00 V6599 0.2 0.1 Necessary - Coupe or Convertible
Inspect/Replace All Four (4) Shoulder 4 12500487 ** SK-00 V6600 1.9 0.1 Belt Assemblies Coupe Only
Inspect/Replace Both Front & One (1) Rear 3 12500487 ** SK-00 V6601 1.6 0.1 Shoulder Belt Assy. - Coupe Only
Inspect/Replace Both Rear & One (1) Front 3 12500487 ** SK-00 V6602 1.1 0.1 Shoulder Belt Assy. - Coupe Only
Inspect/Replace Both Front Shoulder Belt 2 12500487 ** SK-00 V6603 1.4 0.1 Assemblies - Coupe
Inspect/Replace One (1) Front & One (1) 2 12500487 ** SK-00 V6604 1.1 0.1 Rear Shoulder Belt Assembly - Coupe Only
Inspect/Replace Both Rear Shoulder Belt 2 12503619 ** SK-00 V6605 0.8 0.1 Assemblies - Coupe Only
Inspect/Replace One (1) Front Shoulder 1 12500487 ** SK-00 V6606 0.8 0.1 Belt Assembly - Coupe
Inspect/Replace One (1) Rear Shoulder 1 12503619 ** SK-00 V6607 0.5 0.1 Belt Assembly - Coupe
Inspect/Replace Both Front Shoulder Belt 2 12500230 ** SK-00 V6608 1.2 0.1 Assemblies - Conv.
Inspect/Replace One (1) Front Shoulder 1 12500230 ** SK-00 V6609 0.7 0.1 Belt Assembly - Conv.
* Campaign Administrative Allowance.
** The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO Dealer Net price plus 30% of all parts required for the repair.
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 some 1991 Chevrolet Camaro model vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies". If you no longer own a 1991 Camaro, please help us by completing and mailing the postage paid reply card that you will find with this letter. If you do have a 1991 Camaro, please read on.
One or more of the seat belts in the car might not latch properly, so that if there is a crash, the person wearing that belt would not have the protection from injury that a seat belt can give.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Please check each safety belt in your Camaro. It takes only a few seconds, or your Chevrolet Dealer can check your safety belts for you if you prefer.
Without sitting in the seat, buckle each belt. You should hear an audible click which indicates that the latch is buckled.
Then, push the red release button. The latchplate should pop right out.
There is a problem if:
* You can't buckle the belt at all; or
* When you push the red release button, the latchplate doesn't pop right out.
If either of these things is true for any of your safety belts we want to fix your car right away.
Please call your Chevrolet dealer now and schedule a time to go in. Be sure to give your car's model and interior color, so they can be sure to have the correct color safety belts for your car when you get there.
WHAT WE WILL DO
In cars that have either of the problems described above, we will replace the retractor assembly for the safety belt(s) with the problem at no charge.
Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your Chevrolet dealer and parts are available. The labor time necessary to perform this service correction is about fifteen (15) minutes to two (2) hours depending on the type of vehicle and the number of belts which require replacement. However, this doesn't include time for scheduling and processing. Please ask your dealer if you want to know how much extra time they will need to schedule and process your vehicle on the day you bring it in.
Your Chevrolet dealer is best able to get parts and provide service to make sure your vehicle is corrected as quickly as possible. However, if you take your vehicle to your dealer on the agreed service date, but the dealer doesn't remedy this condition on that date, or within five days, you should contact the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-1020.
If you contact your Dealer and the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center, but still aren't satisfied that we've done our best to remedy this condition, without charge, and within a reasonable time, you may want 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 Campaign owner reply card identifies your Chevrolet. Giving this card to your dealer will help them correct your car in the shortest possible time.
If none of your car's safety belts have any one of these problems, you don't need to call your dealer. Please check the red box on your postage paid reply card and return it to us. This will help to make us aware of your vehicles status in this recall.
We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we've 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.
