Product Safety - Rear Stop/Turn Signal Lamps Inoperative

DUE TO PART AVAILABILITY, THIS RECALL IS BEING CONDUCTED IN PHASES. THE FIRST PHASE WILL INCLUDE ALL PONTIAC CUSTOMERS. WHEN SUFFICIENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, CHEVROLET CUSTOMERS WILL BE CONTACTED AND YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED.

General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2003 model year Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a condition where the rear lamps that provide stop and turn signals and tail lamp functions stop working because of inadequate contact between the bulb and socket. If the turn signal is inoperative, the driver should notice a higher rate of turn signal indicator flashes and rapid clicking of the turn signal flasher. In addition, if one bulb were to become inoperative while the vehicle was operating in cruise control, the cruise control would disengage when the remaining bulb was activated. If both lamps were to become inoperative, the cruise control would not engage. If these rear lamps are inoperative, a following driver may take longer to react to the motion of the vehicle and a crash could occur.

Dealers are to inspect the rear lamp sockets and apply grease or replace them if necessary.

Involved are certain 2003 model year Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints:

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) before 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

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.

For Export

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 other 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 program.

Parts required to complete this recall are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" before ordering parts. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO=Daily Replenishment Order. In an emergency situation, parts should be ordered on a CSO=Customer Special Order.

*One unit will service 100 vehicles.

The following procedure provides instructions for inspecting, and if necessary, replacing the stop lamp sockets and bulbs.

Inspection

1. Open the rear compartment (trunk) lid.
2. If equipped, disconnect the cargo net from the hooks on the rear fasteners.
3. Remove the left side fastener securing the trunk trim over the left tail lamp and reposition the trim.
4. Remove the tail/stop lamp bulb socket from the lamp by turning it counterclockwise.
5. Remove the bulb from the socket by pulling it straight out.
6. Inspect for lubricant or grease on the base of the bulb or in the socket.

•	If grease or lubricant IS found, no further repairs are needed on this lamp socket. Repeat this procedure on the right side tail/stop lamp socket.

•	If grease or lubricant is NOT found, inspect for burned terminals inside the socket. Also look for evidence or signs that arcing has taken place between the terminals in the socket and the terminals on the base of the bulb. If there are NO burned terminals or evidence of arcing, proceed to Step 13.

•	If there ARE burned terminals or evidence of arcing, proceed to the next step and replace the socket assembly and bulb.

7. If equipped, disconnect the rear side marker socket from the stop lamp by turning it slightly counterclockwise.
8. Disconnect the wiring harness electrical connector from the socket.
9. Connect the new socket to the wiring harness electrical connector.
10. If equipped, transfer the side marker bulb from the old socket to the new socket.

Important: New stop lamp sockets come with dielectric lubricant already on the terminals. Therefore, it is not necessary to add lubricant to them.

11. Install a new stop lamp bulb in the new socket.
12. If equipped, install the side marker socket into the tail lamp and rotate it clockwise to lock it in place.

Important: A new bulb is only to be used if a new socket is being installed. If the original socket is being reused, do not replace the bulb.

13. If the original socket is being reused, apply dielectric lubricant, P/N 12377900, to the base of the stop lamp bulb and insert the bulb into the socket.
14. Install the stop lamp socket into the tail lamp and rotate it clockwise to lock it in place.
15. Reposition the trunk trim and install the rear fastener hand-tight.
16. Repeat this procedure on the right side stop lamp socket.
17. If equipped, reinstall the cargo net to the hooks on the rear fasteners.
18. Close the trunk lid.

All customer requests for reimbursement for previous repairs for the recall condition will be handled by the Customer Assistance Center, not by dealers.

A General Motors Product Recall Customer Reimbursement Procedure Form is included with the customer letter.

Important: Refer to the GM Service Policies and Procedures Manual, section 6.1.12 for specific procedures regarding customer reimbursement and the form.

Customer requests for reimbursement of previously paid repairs to correct the condition addressed in this bulletin are to be submitted by January 31, 2006.

All reasonable customer paid receipts should be considered for reimbursement. The amount to be reimbursed will be limited to the amount the repair would have cost if completed by an authorized General Motors dealer.

When a customer requests reimbursement, they must provide the following:

Claims for customer reimbursement on previously paid repairs are to be submitted as required by WINS.

Important: Refer to the GM Service Policies and Procedures Manual, section 1.6.2, for specific procedures regarding customer reimbursement verification.

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:

Note: Canadian dealers should refer to the Canadian distribution of the bulletin for detailed claim information.

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

General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (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 sample letter.

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle which 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 to provide 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.

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. A copy of the customer letter is provided in this bulletin for your use in contacting customers. 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.

If you have paid to have this recall condition corrected prior to receiving this notification, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement.

Requests for reimbursement may include parts, labor, fees and taxes. Reimbursement may be limited to the amount the repair would have cost if completed by an authorized General Motors dealer.

Your claim will be acted upon within 60 days of receipt.

If your claim is:

Please follow the instructions on the Claim Form provided on the reverse side to file a claim for reimbursement. If you have questions about this reimbursement procedure, please call the toll-free telephone number provided at the bottom of the form. If you need assistance with any other concern, please contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the number listed below. The Customer Assistance Center hours of operation are from 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM eastern standard time Monday through Friday

Please mail this claim form and the required documents to:

General Motors Corporation

P.O. Box 33170

Detroit, MI 48232-5170

All recall reimbursement questions should be directed to the following number: 1-800-204-0261.

Dear General Motors Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2003 model year Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a condition where the rear lamps that provide stop and turn signals and tail lamp functions stop working because of inadequate contact between the bulb and socket. If the turn signal is inoperative, the driver should notice a higher rate of turn signal indicator flashes and rapid clicking of the turn signal flasher. In addition, if one bulb were to become inoperative while the vehicle was operating in cruise control, the cruise control would disengage when the remaining bulb was activated. If both lamps were to become inoperative, the cruise control would not engage. If these rear lamps are inoperative, a following driver may take longer to react to the motion of the vehicle and a crash could occur.

Your dealer will inspect the rear lamp sockets and apply grease or replace them if necessary. This service will be performed for you at no charge .

This inspection and service correction will take approximately 25 minutes. However, due to service scheduling requirements, your dealer may need your vehicle for a longer period of time.

To limit any possible inconvenience, we recommend that you contact your dealer as soon as possible to schedule an appointment for this repair. By scheduling an appointment, your dealer can ensure that the necessary parts will be available on your scheduled appointment date.

Should your dealer be unable to schedule a service date within a reasonable time, you should contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the number listed below. The Customer Assistance Center hours of operation are from 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM eastern standard time 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 form and mailing it back to us.

The enclosed form explains what reimbursement is available and how to request reimbursement if you have paid for repairs for the recall condition.

If your vehicle is within the New Vehicle Limited Warranty your dealer may 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.

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.

Federal regulation requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days.

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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