Child Seat Restraint

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 Administration.

General Motors has decided that certain 1996-98 Chevrolet and GMC M/L model vans equipped with integral dual child seats (RPO AN5) fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 213, "Child Restraint Systems." Some of these vehicles may be missing a seat belt retractor clutch spring and/or pawl spring in the child seat. If the clutch spring were missing from the retractor, the seat belt would lock in the retracted position and could not be used. If the pawl spring were missing from the retractor, the seat belt would continually play out and would not lock. This could increase the occupant's risk of injury in the event of a vehicle crash.

To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, dealers are to inspect the seat belts on the child seats, and if necessary, replace the child seat.

Involved are certain 1996-98 Chevrolet and GMC M/L vans equipped with integral dual child seats (RPO AN5) built within the following VIN breakpoints:

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through VISS (Vehicle Information Service System) 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 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.

Customers will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of typical customer letter included with this bulletin - actual divisional letter may vary slightly).

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

This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this campaign may not comply with the standard identified above. Under 41 U.S.C. section 30112 of the Highway Safety Act as amended, 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 $1,100 for each such sale.

Inspection Preparation

1. Locate the Built-In Child Restraints in the two outer positions of the second row bench seat.



2. Lower the seat back cushion to inspect the Built-In Child Restraint.



3. Unfasten the harness clip (2) and move them low on the straps (1) (down near the buckle).
4. Unfasten the two latch plates (3) from the buckle (4).
5. Let the shoulder straps (1) retract into the seat back. The shoulder straps (1) must be fully retracted to unlock and begin inspection.

Inspection Procedure

Important: 

•	If EITHER the left or the right strap fails to lock during the following procedure, the complete Built-In Child Restraint Seat Module must be replaced.

•	If the strap cannot be pulled out until it is fully extended from the seat module, the seat module must be replaced.

1. Grasp the shoulder portion of the RIGHT strap (1). In one continuous motion, pull the strap (1) out until it is fully extended. Hold it in this position.
2. Allow the strap (1) to retract into the seat back approximately two (2) inches.
3. Tug the strap (1) forward. The retractor should lock, preventing any further extraction of the strap (1).
4. Again, allow the strap (1) to retract into the seat back an additional two (2) inches.
5. Tug the strap (1) forward. The retractor should lock, preventing any further extraction of the strap (1).
6. Allow the strap (1) to fully retract into the seat back.
7. Repeat inspection steps 1 through 6 a second time on the right strap (1).



8. Perform the same inspection procedure on the LEFT strap (1) of the same seat.
9. Perform the same COMPLETE inspection procedure on BOTH the left and the right straps on the OTHER Child Restraint Seat Module Assembly.




Important: Do NOT insert the left and right latch plates (2) into the buckle (3).

10. If both left and right straps on both Built-In Child Restraint Seat Modules locked as described in the above inspection procedure, connect the left and right harness clips (1) together. Close the seat module. No further action is required. Install the GM Campaign Identification Label.
11. If a left and/or right strap FAILED to lock on a Built-In Child Restraint Seat Module during the above inspection procedure, then THAT Built-In Child Restraint Seat Module must be replaced using the replacement procedure below. If a left and/or right strap FAILED to lock on BOTH Built-In Child Restraint Seat Modules, then BOTH Built-In Child Restraint Seat Modules must be replaced.

Replacement Procedure

Important: Only use the following procedure if it is necessary to replace a Built-In Child Restraint Seat Module.

1. With the child seat still in the folded down position, remove the seat pad by releasing the hook and loop fastener at each of the four corners. Route the upper straps through the slits in the pad and the buckle through the opening.



2. Remove and discard the four (4) T-40 TORX® head bolts that attach the seat module to the rear seat back frame.
3. Remove the seat module from the vehicle.
4. Install the new seat module in the rear seat assembly.
5. Install four (4) new T-40 TORX® head bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 26 N·m (19 lb ft).




6. Install the seat pad by routing the upper straps through the slits, and the buckle through the opening. Attach the four hook and loop fasteners to the seat module.




Important: Do NOT insert the left or right latches (2) into the buckle (3).

7. Connect the left and right harness clips (1) together and close the seat module.
8. Install the GM 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 pull the tab to allow adhesion of the clear protective covering. Additional Campaign Identification Labels can be obtained from Dealer Support Materials by calling 1-888-414-6322 (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.

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below. Refer to the General Motors Corporation Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

Dear Chevrolet/GMC 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 certain 1996-98 Chevrolet and GMC M/L vans equipped with integral dual child seats fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 213, "Child Restraint Systems". These vehicles may be missing a seat belt retractor clutch spring and/or pawl spring in the child seat. If the clutch spring were missing from the retractor, the seat belt would lock in the retracted position and could not be used. If the pawl spring were missing from the retractor, the seat belt would continually play out and would not lock. In the event of a vehicle crash, the seat belt restraint would not restrain the occupant until all the belt on the retractor with the missing pawl spring would play out. As a result, more injuries could occur.

To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, your dealer will inspect the seat belts on the child seats, and if necessary, replace the child seat. This service will be performed for you at no charge .

The length of time required to perform this inspection, and if necessary, replace the child seat, is approximately 15-25 minutes. 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.

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 Center at the listed number 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 1-800-424-9393 (Washington, DC residents use 202-366-0123).

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.

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/GMC Division

General Motors Corporation

Enclosure