Product SafetyRecall - Rear Floor Pan Welds Missing

ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2002 ALL VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL WERE PLACED ON STOP DELIVERY. AFTER THE SERVICE INSPECTION CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN IS PERFORMED AND IT IS DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO MISSING WELDS, VEHICLES MAY BE DELIVERED TO CUSTOMERS.

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2002 and 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazers and GMC Envoys. Some of these vehicles are missing welds on the rear floor pan. In a crash, missing welds could degrade performance of the third row seat and safety belt anchorage and occupants could receive greater injuries.

Dealers are to inspect for missing welds. If missing welds are found, dealers are to offer customers an exchange for an equivalent vehicle or a refund of the purchase price. These options are the only options being made available to customers because the repair procedure is extensive and dealers are not equipped with the proper tools to perform this repair. If the vehicle is returned to the dealership's possession on or before October 31, 2002, the mileage depreciation allowance will be waived.

Involved are the 2002 and 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazers and GMC Envoys listed below.

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

Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number. 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.

No parts are required for this recall.

Inspection Procedure

The following procedure describes where to inspect for missing welds in the underbody sheet metal.

1. Raise the vehicle on a suitable hoist.



2. If necessary, remove any dirt or road debris from the underside of the left rear corner of the vehicle as shown above.

Important: The close-ups in the illustration below show what the sheet metal tabs will look like with or without the welds. The screwdriver is being used as a pointer to show the location of the sheet metal tabs.

Important: The following applies to both options, replacement of vehicle or repurchase of vehicle if it has failed the inspection listed above.

Replacement of Customer Vehicle

For assistance in replacing a customer vehicle, contact the GM Dealer Business Center (DBC) at 1-888-41GM-DBC (1-888-414-6322), prompt #2 with the involved VIN and customer information. The DBC will forward the information to the appropriate group to start the replacement/repurchase process for the customer's vehicle.

Replacement of Dealer Stock Unit

For assistance with repurchase and replacement of a dealer stock unit, contact the GM Dealer Business Center (DBC) at 1-888-41GM-DBC (1-888-414-6322), prompt #2. Please have the sales department prepare a like order within Vehicle Order Management and provide the order # to the DBC agent for your replacement order.

Customers who return their vehicle to the dealership's possession on or before October 31, 2002,w ill receive their replacement vehicle at no charge or a full refund of their purchase price.

Dealers should provide owners with alternate transportation until a final, mutually agreeable disposition is agreed upon and completed. These arrangements should be made as soon as possible to minimize customer inconvenience.

If the customer elects to replace their vehicle, they must pick a substantially identical 2002 or 2003 unit out of stock (or through dealer locator system). If a 2002 unit is not available, a 2003 unit may be substituted.

Equipment installation by the customer should be removed in anticipation of being reinstalled in the replacement vehicle.

Once the dealer has taken possession of the involved vehicle, park the vehicle until contacted with instructions on shipping the vehicle. Dealers are toe enter the PDI claim for the new vehicle in the normal manner. The sales and delivery information should be reported via DCS in the customary manner.

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. 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 calling 1-866-700-0001 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

Dealers in possession of vehicles included in the Stop Delivery are eligible for reimbursement of floor plan expense upon completion of this recall. This reimbursement is limited to the number of days from the Stop Delivery message to receipt of the recall parts and/or repair procedures. Floor plan reimbursement beyond these dates is not allowed. The amount of reimbursement should be charged as a net amount expense using the recall labor operation provided.

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. If the vehicle passes the inspection it should be returned to the customer immediately. If the vehicle fails the inspection and requires replacement, dealers are to provide a comparable GM vehicle that the customer is comfortable with until their new vehicle is available for delivery. Reasonable additional expense to obtain a comparable loaner/rental vehicle for these customers is allowable. Dealers are not to provide comparable loaner/rental vehicles to customers who choose not to obtain a replacement vehicle.

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.

Customers will be notified of this recall on their vehicles by General Motors via telephone. A letter will also be mailed to customers. (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

Important: See additional dealer responsibilities in the section titled "Replacement/Repurchase of Vehicle" located in the Service Procedure.

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. 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.

Dear General Motors Customer:

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

Recently you may have been contact by General Motors, but this letter is to inform that General Motors has decided that a defect that relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2002 and 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazers and GMC Envoys. Some of these vehicles are missing welds on the rear floor pan. In a crash, missing welds could degrade performance of the third row seat and safety belt anchorage and occupants could receive greater injuries.

Your GM dealer will inspect your vehicle for missing welds. This service will be performed for you at no charge .

If missing welds are found, General Motors will exchange your vehicle for an equivalent vehicle or provide a refund of the purchase price. These are the only options being made available to you because the repair procedure is extensive and your dealer is not equipped with the proper tools to perform this repair. Your vehicle must be returned to your dealer on or before October 31, 2002 .

The length of time required to perform this inspection is approximately 15 minutes. Additional time may be required to schedule and process your vehicle. If you dealer has a large number of vehicles awaiting service, this additional time may be significant. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule, process and repair your vehicle.

Please contact your dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Instructions for performing this inspection 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 number listed below:

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 attached customer 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 no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by completing the attached and mailing it in the postage paid envelope.

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 inspection. Please refer to your Owner's Manual and your dealer for details on Courtesy Transportation.

If you elect a vehicle replacement, your dealer will provide you with an comparable GM vehicle that you are comfortable with until your new vehicle is available for delivery.

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