Product Safety - Fuel Tank Housing Fracture-Replace Fuel Tank (US Only)

Due to part availability, this recall is being administered in two phases. The first phase will consist of Chevrolet Venture and Pontiac Montana vehicles. The second phase will be Buick Rendezvous and Pontiac Aztek vehicles. All involved vehicles will be loaded into GMVIS at the time of the first phase. You will be notified when the second phase is launched.

General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2002-2004 Buick Rendezvous; 2001-2004 Chevrolet Venture (regular wheelbase), and Pontiac Aztek and Montana (regular wheelbase) vehicles. Variations in the manufacturing process or exposure to high temperatures may lead to a fracture of the fuel tank inlet check valve (ICV) on some of these vehicles. A fracture may allow fuel vapors to pass through and allow droplets of fuel to accumulate on the side of the fuel tank. If this condition occurred and a sufficient amount of fuel leaked out, and if an ignition source was present, a vehicle fire could occur.

Dealers are to replace the fuel tank.

Involved are 2002-2004 Buick Rendezvous; 2001-2004 Chevrolet Venture (regular wheelbase), and Pontiac Aztek and Montana (regular wheelbase) vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints:

Important: Dealers are to confirm vehicle eligibility prior to beginning repairs by using the GM Vehicle Inquiry System (GMVIS). Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.

For dealers with involved vehicles, a listing with involved vehicles containing the complete vehicle identification number, customer name, and address information has been prepared and will be provided through GM DealerWorld Recall Information. Dealers will not have a report available if they have no involved vehicles currently assigned.

The listing may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any 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 recall.

Parts required to complete this recall are to be obtained from General Motors Service and 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.

1. Remove the fuel tank from the vehicle. Refer to Fuel Tank Replacement in SI.
2. Install the new fuel tank. Refer to Fuel Tank Replacement in SI.

All customer requests for reimbursement of previously paid repairs for the recall condition will be handled by the Customer Assistance Center, not by dealers and are to be submitted by December 31, 2008.

A General Motors Customer Reimbursement Procedure and Claim 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.

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.

General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle that 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, you must 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 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 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 Customer Assistance Center between the hours of 8:00 AM and 11:00 PM, EST, Monday through Friday. They can be reached at the number listed on your customer letter.

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 that relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2002-2004 model year Buick Rendezvous; 2001-2004 model year Chevrolet Venture (regular wheelbase); and Pontiac Aztek and Montana (regular wheelbase) vehicles. As a result, GM is conducting a safety recall. We apologize for this inconvenience. However, we are concerned about your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

Important: 

Why is your vehicle being recalled?

Variations in the manufacturing process or exposure to high temperatures may lead to a fracture of the fuel tank inlet check valve on your vehicle. A fracture may allow fuel vapors to pass through and allow droplets of fuel to accumulate on the side of the fuel tank. If this condition occurred and a sufficient amount of fuel leaked out, and if an ignition source was present, a vehicle fire could occur.

What will we do?

Your GM dealer will replace the fuel tank. This service will be performed for you at no charge . Because of service scheduling requirements, it is likely that your dealer will need your vehicle longer than the actual service correction time of approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes.

What should you do?

You should contact your GM dealer to arrange a service appointment as soon as possible. Bring the enclosed customer reply form with you when you visit your dealer. The form identifies the repairs required. If you no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by completing the form and mailing it back to us.

Did you already pay for this repair?

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

Do you have questions?

If you have questions or concerns that your dealer is unable to resolve, please contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the number listed below. More information about this recall can be found at the Owner Center at MyGMLink, http://www.gm.com/recall

If after contacting your dealer and the Customer Assistance Center, you are still not satisfied 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, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington DC 20590, or call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1.888.327.4236 (TTY 1.800.424.9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

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

Scott Lawson

General Director,

Customer and Relationship Services

Enclosure

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