Product Safety - Replacement of Drivers Seat Belt Buckle

GMDAT has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2004 Chevrolet Epica model vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which the seat belt latch plate cannot be locked into the seat belt buckle assembly.

Dealers are to replace the driver's seat belt buckle.

Involved vehicles are listed below:

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through DCS Screen 445 before beginning recall repairs.

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 recall bulletin. The customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this recall. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the recall 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 recall.

Parts required to complete this recall are to be provided by the supplier.

1. Remove the plastic caps and the mounting bolts of the bucket seats.
2. Record radio security code. Disconnect the negative battery cable.



3. Disconnect the seatbelt warning switch connector, the power drive seat connector and the side airbag connector.
4. Remove the mounting nut of the seat belt buckle.




Important: The removed buckle is not to be reused.

5. Remove and replace the seat belt buckle with the new one. Tighten the nut.

Tighten
Tighten the nut to 55 N·m (41 lb ft).




6. Fix the wiring harness of the warning switch under the bucket seat.
7. Connect the seatbelt warning switch connector, the power drive seat connector and the side airbag connector.
8. Connect the negative battery cable.
9. Install the seat anchor bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 25 N·m (18 lb ft).

10. Install the plastic caps.
11. Input the radio security code and adjust the clock.
12. Install the GM Recall Identification Label.

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

Put the Recall 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.

For US and IPC

When installing the Recall Identification Label, be sure to pull the tab to allow the adhesion of the clear protective covering. Additional Recall Identification Labels for US dealers can be obtained from Dealer Support Materials by either ordering on the web from DWD Store, gm-dealerworld.com, or calling 1-866-700-0001 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Request Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

Additional Recall Identification Labels for IPC dealers can be obtained from your Regional Marketing Office.

Submit a Product Recall Claim with the information indicated below:

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

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.

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.