CAMPAIGN: BUCKET SEAT RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE. GMC Truck GMC V Truck

PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN

SUBJECT: 94001(A) - BUCKET SEAT RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE ---------------------------------------------

MODELS: 1985-91 M-VANS, 1990-91 L-VANS, 1989-91 R/V SUBURBANS -----------------------------------------------------

THIS BULLETIN CANCELS AND REPLACES CHEVROLET BULLETIN 91-C-33 AND GMC BULLETIN 91-C-19 ISSUED JANUARY, 1994. THE INVOLVED POPULATION HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE 1991 R/V SUBURBANS. ALL COPIES OF CHEVROLET BULLETIN 91-C-33 AND GMC BULLETIN 91-C-19 SHOULD BE DESTROYED.

The Highway 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 customer 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 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. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the divisional letter that is being sent to customers, the customers are being instructed to contact the appropriate 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 Adminisfration.

DEFECT INVOLVED

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1985-91 M-Van, 1990-91 L-Van (with RPO A78) and 1989-91 R/V Suburban (with RPO A95) model vehicles equipped with bucket seats with knob type recliner mechanisms. These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which a front seat recliner bolt may fatigue and break. This could allow the seat back to suddenly recline. If this occurred to the driver's seat, it could lead to a sudden loss of vehicle control and a vehicle crash without prior warning.

The bolt fatigue results from high load inputs from the seat occupant when the joint between the recliner mechanism and the seat frame is loose. The recliner mechanism and the seat frame may have foam, cloth, or vinyl between them creating a "soft joint". This "soft joint" can result in lower than specified bolt torque and lead to joint looseness.

To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, dealers are to remove the foam, cloth, or vinyl from between the recliner mechanism and the seat frame "soft joint" and replace the recliner bolts.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are certain 1985-91 M-Van, 1990-91 L-Van and 1989-91 R/V Suburban model vehicles equipped with bucket seats with knob type recliner mechanisms and built within the following VIN breakpoints:

PLANT YEAR DIVISION MODEL PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH ------- --------- ------ --------- ----- -------- -------- 1985-91 Chevrolet M-Van Baltimore "B" SOP 1985 MB154710 1990-91 Chevrolet L-Van Baltimore "B" SOP 1990 MB154710 1989-91 Chevrolet R/V Sub Flint "F" SOP 1989 EOP 1991 1985-91 GMC M-Van Baltimore "B" SOP 1985 MB517751 1990-91 GMC L-Van Baltimore "B" SOP 1990 MB517751 1989-91 GMC R/V Sub Flint "F" SOP 1989 EOP 1991

NOTICE: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through VISS (Vehicle Information Service System) or ServiceNet (GMC only) prior to beginning campaign repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved]

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 campaign bulletin. The Customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

These dealer listings may contain customer 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.

PARTS INFORMATION

Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" prior to ordering requirements. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. An emergency requirement should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.

Part Quantity/ Number Description Vehicle -------- ----------- --------- 9440181 R/V Bolt 4 15990580 M/L Bolt 4

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION

Customers will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of divisional customer letter(s) included with this bulletin). Owners of involved vehicles, except 1991 R/V Suburbans, were previously notified in January, 1994. Owners of 1991 R/V Suburbans will be notified September, 1996.

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

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

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign 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 appropriate divisional customer letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign 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 campaign enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

R/V SUBURBAN

1. Remove the electrical connectors if vehicle is equipped with power seats.

2. Remove seat belt guide, if applicable.

3. Remove seat riser to floor retaining bolts (do not discard).

4. Remove seat. To provide support, lay seat on side on workbench or equivalent.

5. Remove the two seat back to seat cushion recliner retaining bolts (Figure 1, Item 2) and discard. Move seat back aside to gain access to the cloth around the bolts.

6. Cut cloth/foam material away to allow the recliner mechanism to properly seat to the seat frame (Figure 1, Item 1).

7. Install new recliner bolts and torque to 20-35 Nm (14-26 lbs. ft.) (Figure 1, Item 2) (only the two seat back to seat cushion recliner retaining bolts need to be replaced).

WHEN REINSTALLING BOLTS, ALL CLOTH AND FOAM MUST BE CLEAR OF BOLT AREA.

8. Install seat, retaining bolts and torque to 35 Nm (26 lbs. ft.). Verify that the retaining nuts are seated properly.

9. Connect electrical connector if equipped with 6-way power seat.

10. lnstall the seat belt guide, if applicable.

11. Repeat the above procedure on the passenger seat.

12. Install the GM Campaign Identification Label

M/L VAN

1. Remove the electrical connectors if vehicle is equipped with power seats.

2. Remove seat belt guide, if applicable.

3. Remove the seat from the vehicle, by removing four seat riser to floor retaining nuts (do not discard). To provide support, lay seat on side on workbench or equivalent.

4. Remove the cover from the seat adjuster knob.

5. Remove the adjuster-knob from the seat by holding the knob and using a pair of needle nose pliers or equivalent to rotate the clip.

6. Remove the recliner trim cover by inserting a screw driver or equivalent behind the cover and pushing out on the retainer clips (Figure 2).

BE CAREFUL WHEN REMOVING THE COVER THAT THE CLIPS ARE NOT DAMAGED.

7. Remove the two seat back to seat cushion recliner retaining bolts (Figure 3, Item 2) to gain access to the vinyl, and discard.

8. Cut the vinyl/cloth back using the markings from the recliner. Be careful when cutting the vinyl to insure that it is cut back from the bolt area (Figure 3, Item 1).

9. Install the new bolts (2) and torque to 28 Nm (21 lbs. ft.) (Figure 3, Item 2) (only the two seat back to seat cushion recliner retaining bolts need to be replaced).

WHEN REINSTALLING BOLTS, ALL VINYL AND FOAM MUST BE CLEAR OF BOLT AREA.

10. Install the trim cover.

11. Install the adjuster knob and rotate the knob clip to secure.

12. Install the adjuster knob cover.

13. Install the seat into the vehicle and torque to 35 Nm (26 lbs. ft.). Verify that the retaining nuts are seated properly.

14. Connect the electrical wires if equipped with power seats.

15. Install the seat belt guide, if applicable.

16. Install the GM 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 campaign number and 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 by the customer.for periodic servicing. When installing the Campaign Identification Label, be sure to install the clear protective covering. Additional Campaign Identification Labels can be obtained from VISPAC Incorporated by calling 1-800-269-5100 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

Apply the "Campaign Identification Label" only on a clean, dry surface.

CLAIM INFORMATION

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:

* REPAIR PERFORMED PART FAILED PARTS LABOR LABOR COUNT PART NO. ALLOW CC-FC 0P HOURS ----------------------- ----- -------- ----- ----- ----- ----- Replace Bolts - R/V 4 9440181 ** MA-96 V8410 0.7 (Includes Both Driver & Passenger Seats)

Replace Bolts - M/L 4 15990580 ** MA-96 V8411 1.0 (includes Both Driver & Passenger Seats)

* For Campaign Administrative Allowance, add 0.1 hours to the "Labor Hours".

** The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO Dealer Net price plus 30% for bolts needed to complete the repair.

Refer to the General Motors Corporation Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

94001 (A)

(Sample Of Notification Used)

October, 1996

Dear Chevrolet/GMC Customer:

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 decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1985-91 M-Van, 1990-91 L-Van and 1989-91 R/V Suburban model vehicles equipped with bucket seats with knob type recliner mechanisms. These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which a front seat recliner bolt may fatigue and break. This could allow the seat back to suddenly recline. If this occurred to the driver's seat, it could lead to a sudden loss of vehicle control and a vehicle crash without prior warning.

What Will Be Done: To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, your GM dealer will remove the foam, cloth, or vinyl from between the recliner mechanism and the seat frame "soft joint" and replace the recliner bolts. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

How Long Will The Repair Take? The length of time required to perform this service correction is approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Additional time may be required to schedule and process your vehicle. If your 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.

Contacting Your Dealer: Please contact your dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Parts are available and instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much time will be needed to schedule, process and repair your vehicle. Your Chevrolet/GMC 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/Relations Center at the listed number below:

Deaf, Hearing Impaired Division Number or Speech Impaired* --------- -------------- ----------------------- Chevrolet 1-800-222-1020 1-800-833-2439 GMC 1-800-462-8782 1-800-462-8583

* Utilizes Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf/Text Telephones (TDD/TTY)

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, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington D.C. residents use 202-366-0123).

Customer Reply Card: The enclosed 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 postage paid reply card and returning it to us.

Courtesy Transportation: 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.

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.

Chevrolet/Pontiac-GMC Division GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION

Object Number: 85845 Size: FS

Object Number: 84112 Size: FS

Object Number: 85168 Size: FS

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.