Product Safety - Fuel Tank Adhesive Layer Missing

General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2007 Buick Allure and LaCrosse; Chevrolet Impala; and Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. Fourteen vehicles have a fuel tank that is missing the adhesive layer that bonds the barrier layer to the outer shell of the fuel tank. With this condition, fuel and/or fuel vapors could seep out between the layers. If fuel leaked onto the ground and a source of ignition was present, a vehicle fire could occur.

Dealers are to inspect the serial number on the fuel tank and replace the fuel tank if necessary.

Involved are certain 2007 Buick Allure and LaCrosse; Chevrolet Impala; and Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints:

Important: Dealers are to confirm vehicle eligibility prior to beginning repairs by using 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 the applicable system listed below. Dealers will not have a report available if they have no involved vehicles currently assigned.

--- US dealers - GM DealerWorld Recall Information

-- Canadian dealers - GMinfoNet Recall Reports

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.

* Only 15 fuel tanks in North America require replacement.

1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in SI.



2. Locate the fuel tank serial number (1), which is on the driver’s side of the tank and usually visible through the rear driver’s side wheel well.
3. Compare the fuel tank’s serial number (1) to the tank serial numbers below.

•	If the serial number on the fuel tank is not listed below, no further action is required

•	If the serial number on the fuel tank is listed below, the fuel tank requires replacement. Refer to Fuel Tank Replacement in SI. Do not discard the fuel tank. Refer to the section titled, Fuel Tank Cleaning and Packaging Information found in this bulletin.

Fuel Tank Cleaning and Packaging Information

1. Purge the remaining fuel from the fuel tank.
2. Use water to clean the fuel tank and fuel tank components. Keep the fuel components assembled if possible.
3. Drain all of the water from the fuel tank. Allow the fuel tank to dry for a minimum of 24 hours (ideal time is 2 days or more). Towel-dry the fuel tank if required to remove any moisture from the tank.
4. Package the fuel tank and fuel tank components in an appropriate weight cardboard box. The packaging should protect the fuel tank from any further damage.
5. Record the vehicle identification number (VIN) on the outside of the package in large legible letters for quick identification.
6. Include the words "ATTENTION: Brian McElwee" on the outside of the package. Refer to Contact and Shipping Address Information below for the shipping address.
7. Ensure that the normal point of contact in shipping is informed about the package so the carrier will only need to mention VITEC to retrieve it.
8. Contact VITEC to arrange for the pickup of the fuel tank. Refer to Contact and Shipping Address Information below.

Contact and Shipping Address Information

Contact Person: Brian McElwee

Office Phone: 313-633-2256

Cell Phone: 313-268-5626

Fax: 413-618-9640

VITEC

Attention: Brian McElwee

2627 Clark Street

Detroit, MI 48210

VITEC appreciates your support and will make every effort to pick up the fuel tank assemblies as quickly as possible.

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. The availability of courtesy transportation to customers whose vehicles are within the warranty coverage period and involved in a product recall is very important in maintaining customer satisfaction. Dealers are to ensure that these customers understand that shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation is available and will be provided at no charge. Dealers should refer to the General Motors Service Policies and Procedures Manual for courtesy transportation guidelines.

Submit a Product Recall Claim with the information indicated below:

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.

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 2007 Buick Allure and LaCrosse; Chevrolet Impala; and Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. As a result, GM is conducting a safety recall. We apologize for this inconvenience. However, we have taken this action for your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

Why is your vehicle being recalled? Your vehicle may have a fuel tank that is missing the adhesive layer that bonds the barrier layer to the outer shell of the fuel tank. With this condition, fuel and/or fuel vapors could seep out between the layers. If fuel leaked onto the ground and a source of ignition was present, a vehicle fire could occur.

What will we do? Your GM dealer will inspect the serial number on the fuel tank and replace the fuel tank if necessary. This service will be performed for you at no charge . It is likely that your dealer will need your vehicle longer than the actual inspection time of approximately 15 minutes because of service scheduling requirements. If the fuel tank requires replacement, an additional 2 hours and 25 minutes will be required.

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 repair. Please refer to your Owner’s Manual and your dealer for details on courtesy transportation.

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.

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, 400 Seventh St., SW, 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

06160