CAMPAIGN: REINFORCEMENT OF REAR SEAT BELT ANCHORAGES

THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT, AS AMENDED, PROVIDES THAT EACH VEHICLE WHICH IS SUBJECT TO A RECALL CAMPAIGN OF THIS TYPE BUST BE ADEQUATELY REPAIRED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME AFTER THE OWNER HAS TENDERED IT FOR REPAIR. A FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY REPAIR WITHIN 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 OWNER MAY BE ENTITLED TO AN EDENTIDAL OR REASONABLY EQUIVALENT VEHCILE AT NO CHARGE OR TO A REFUND OF THE PURCHASE PRICE LESS A REASONABLE ALLOWANCE FOR DEPRECIATION. TO AVOID HAVING TO PROVIDE THESE BURDENSOME SOLUTIONS, EVERY EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO PROMPTLY SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH EACH OWNER AND TO REPAIR THEIR VEHICLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AS YOU WILL SEE IN READING THE ATTACHED COPY OF THE LETTER WHICH IS BEING SENT TO OWNERS, THE OWNERS ARE BEING INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT THE NEAREST PONTIAC ZONE OFFICE IF THEIR DEALER DOES NOT REMEDY THE CONDITION WITHIN FIVE 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. CONDITION INVOLVED GENERAL MOTORS HAS DETERMINED THAT CERTAIN 1982 FIREBIRDS WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR SEAT BELT ANCHORAGES WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES" THE SEAT BELT ANCHORAGES MAY PULL THROUGH THE UNDERBODY OF THESE VEHICLES IF SUBSTANTIAL FORCES WERE TO BE APPLIED. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH IN WHICH BELT RESTRAIN IS REQUIRED, FAILURE OF A REAR SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE WOULD INCREASE LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO THE WEARER OF THE SEATBELT. VEHICLES INVOLVED THE INVOLVED VEHICLES ARE ALL 1982 PONTIAC FIREBIRDS WITHIN THE FOLLOWING VEHICLE BREAKPOINTS: PLANT BEGINNING VIN UP TO AND INCLUDING _____________________________________________________________________ NORWOOD SOP CN521211 VAN NUYS SOP CL548587 DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY DEALERS ARE TO SERVICE ALL VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, AGE OF VEHICLE, OR OWNERSHIP, FROM THIS TIME FORWARD. WHENEVER A VEHICLE SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN IS TAKEN INTO YOUR NEW OR USED VEHICLE INVENTORY OR IT IS IN YOUR DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE IN THE FUTURE, YOU SHOULD TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO BE SURE THE CAMPAIGN CORRECTION HAS BEEN MADE. THIS BULLETIN IS NOTICE TO YOU THAT THE NEW MOTOR VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN MAY NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD IDENTIFIED ABOVE. UNDER SECTION 108 AND 114 OF THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT, IT IS ILLEGAL FOR A DEALER TO SELL A NEW MOTOR VEHICLE WHICH THE DEALERS 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 $1,000 FOR EACH SUCH SALE. OWNER NOTIFICATION OWNERS OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, WHOSE NAMES ARE ON RECORD AT THE TIME THE DATA IS PREPARED, WILL BE NOTIFIED BY PONTIAC MOTOR DIVISION (SEE COPY OF OWNER LETTER INCLUDED WITH THIS BULLETIN.) INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER COMPUTER LISTINGS. COMPUTER LISTINGS CONTAIN THE COMPLETE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, OWNER NAME AND ADDRESS DATA, AND ARE FURNISHED TO THE INVOLVED DEALERS WITH THE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN. OWNER NAME AND ADDRESS DATA FURNISHED WILL ENABLE DEALERS TO FOLLOW UP WITH OWNERS INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN. THESE COMPUTER LISTINGS MAY CONTAIN OWNER NAMES AND ADDRESSES OBTAINED FROM STATE MOTOR VEHICLS REGISTRATION RECORDS. THE USE OF SUCH MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION DATA FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE IS A VIOLATION OF LAW IN SEVERAL STAES. ACCORDINGLY, YOU ARE URGED TO LIMIT THE USE OF THIS LISTING FOR THE FOLLOW-UP NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS OF VEHICLES RECENTLY SOLD FROM YOUR NEW VEHICLE INVENTORY ARE TO BE CONTACTED BY THE DEALER, AND ARRANGEMENTS MADE TO MAKE THE REQUIRED MODIFICATION ACCORDING TO INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN. SERVICE PRODEDURE ________________ 1. REMOVE BOTH REAR SEAT CUSHION. 2. REMOVE RIGHT AND LEFT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ANCHOR BOLTS AND IDSCARD (SEE FIG.1, VIEW A ON FOLLOWING PAGE.) 3. INSTALL NEW RETRACTOR ANCHOR BOLTS (PART NUMBER 20229360) AND TORQUE TO 48-55 NOM (65-75 FT.LBS). TORQUE NOT TO EXCEED 55 NOM (75FT.LBS.). 4. RAISE VEHICLE ON HOIST. 5.INSTALL NEW REINFORCEMENT (PART NUMBER 20440601) OVER SHOULDER OF EXISTING ANCHOR NUT, MAKING SURE THAT EXTENSION IS POINTED REARWARD (SEE FIG.2 ON FOLLOWING PAGE.). 6.INSTALL NEW NUT (PART NUMBER 11502723) HOLDING REINFORCEMENT IN PLACE AND TORQUE TO 20-25 NOM (27-33FT.LBS.). TORQUE NOT TO EXCEED 25NOM(33FT.LBS.). 7.LOWER VEHICLE AND REINSTALL REAR SEAT CUSHIONS. 8. OPEN HOOD. 9.EACH VEHICLE MODIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS OUTLINED IN THIS SERVICE PROCEDURE WILL REQUIRE A CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABE. EACH LABEL PROVIDES A SPACE TO INCLUDE THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER, THE FIVE DIGIT DEALER CODE OF THE DEALER PERFORMING THE CAMPAIGN SERVICE AND THE DATE VEHICLE WAS CAMPAIGNED. THIS INFORMATION MAY BE INSERTED WITH A TYPEWRITER OR BALLPOINT PEN. INSTALL THE LABEL ON THE RADIATOR BAFFLE WHERE IT IS READILY VISIBLE. PARTS INFORMATION _________________ REAR SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE REINFORCEMENT KIT (PART NUMBER 20496891) REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS MODIFICATION IS TO BE OBRAINED BY THE DEALER FROM THE WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION DIVISION OF GENERAL MOTORS. WDDGM WILL ADVISE THROUGH A SALES INFORMATION BULLETIN WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. KIT CONSISTS OF TWO(2) NUTS, TWO (2) BOLTS, TWO(2) REINFORCEMENTS AND INSTRUCTION SHEET. THE REMOVED PARTS ARE TO BE RETAINED FOR DISPOSITION BY ZONE PERSONNEL. ENCLOSED WITH THE COPY OF THIS BULLETIN A LIST OF THOSE VEHICLES INVOLVED WHICH OUR RECORDS INDICATE ARE IN YOUR GEOGRAPHICAL AREA, IS ATTACHED FOR YOUR FOLLOW-UP. ADVISE THE ZONE IF VEHICLES APPEARING ON THE ATTACHED LIST ARE NOT IN YOUR AREA. (IF A LIST OF VEHICLES IS NOT ATTACHED, OUR RECORDS INDICATE NO AFFECTED VEHICLE(S) IN YOUR AREA.) IF A VEHICLE HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED OR SOLD TO ANOTHER LOCATION, PLEASE FORWARD THE NEW NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE VEHICLE TO YOUR PONTIAC ZONE OFFICE. RECORDING COMPLETION CAMPAIGN COMPLETION WILL BE RECORDED FROM "PROPERLY COMPLETED AND PAID WARRANTY CLAIMS." OWNERS ARE BEING ASKED TO PRESENT THE OWNER REPLY CARD FOR IDENTIFICATION TO THEIR DEALER AT THE TIME THEY BRING IN THEIR VEHICLE TO HAVE THE CAMPAIGN PERFORMED. ADDITIONAL CAMPAIGN LABELS ARE AVAILABLE ON STATIONERY ORDER AS FORM 7201-709. DEALERS SHOULD STILL SUBMIT WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR CREDIT IN THIER NORMAL MANNER WHEN THEY PERFORM THE SERVICE AS FOLLOWS: (A COMPLETED WARRANTY CLAIM IS TO BE KEPT AS A PERMANENT RECORD OF COMPLETION.) WARRANTY CREDIT A SEPARATE REPAIR ORDER MUST BE USED FOR EACH VIN. DESCRIPTION FAILURE LABOR LABOR OTHER LABOR CODE OPERATION HOURS HOURS _____________________________________________________________________________ INSTALL REAR SEAT BELT 96 V1380 0.6HR 0.1HR ANCHORAGE REINFORCEMENT KIT *(IN ADDITION, DEALERSHIPS WILL RECEIVE 0.1 HOURS CREDIT FOR DEALER ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CAMPAIGN. THE 0.1 HOURS ALLOWANCE IS TO BE ENTERED IN THE "OTHER LABOR HOURS" FIELD WITH EACH CAMPAIGN REPAIR LISTED FOR CREDIT. THIS ENTRY WILL NOT REQUIRE ZONE AUTHORIZATION. FAILURE CODE 96 MUST BE USED WITH THE LABOR OPERATION. PART KIT REQUIRED IS TO BE LISTED ON YOUR WARRANTY CLAIM IN THE NORMAL MANNER. PART KIT WILL BE CREDITED AT DEALER NET PLUS 30 PERCENT DEALER HANDLING ALLOWANCE FOR PARTS REPLACED. CREDITING DEALERS WILL BE CREDITED VIA WARRANTY DOCUMENT OR TERMINAL TRANSMISSION, WHICHEVER IS THEIR NORMAL METHOD OF SUBMISSION FOR PAYMENT. CLAIMS MUST CONTAIN ALL INFORMATION REQUIRED AND SHOULD LIST THE LABOR OPERATION AS OUTLINED. REPAIRS SUBMITTED FOR VEHICLES NOT INVOLVED IN THE CAMPAIGN WILL NOT BE PAID.

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.