Recall - Driver's Seat Belt Anchorage Defect: Overview
Product Safety - Drivers Safety Belt Anchorage # 04027 - (05/26/2004)04027 -- Driver's Safety Belt Anchorage
2004 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx
Condition
General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2004 model year Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles. A Malibu was tested recently in a government 38.8 mph (62.4 km/h) side impact test. Analysis of the results indicated that during a side impact the outboard anchorage of the driver's safety belt could disconnect because of contact between the seat trim and the anchorage connector when the seat is adjusted to its lowest position. If this were to occur, the drier will no longer be properly restrained, increasing the risk of injury.
Correction
To prevent the possibility of this occurring, dealers are to install a retainer in the front safety belt connectors.
Vehicles Involved
Involved are certain 2004 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles built within the VIN breakpoints shown.
Important
Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) before beginning recall repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.]
For US
For dealers with involved vehicles, a Campaign Initiation Detail. Report containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data has been prepared and will be loaded to the GM DealerWorld, Recall Information website. Dealers that have no involved vehicles currently assigned will not have a report available in GM DealerWorld.
For Canada
Computer listings containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data of involved vehicles have been prepared, and are being furnished to involved dealers. The customer name and address data will enable dealers to follow up with customers involved in this recall. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the recall bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.
The Campaign Initiation Detail Report may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose 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 program.
Parts Information
Important
Due to the availability of the retainers that are required for this recall, retainers will be pre-shipped to dealers in phases, as they become available, beginning the week of May 3, 2004. DO NOT ORDER PARTS FROM GMSPO AT THIS TIME ALL ORDERS WILL BE CANCELED UNTIL SUFFICIENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. When sufficient parts are available, dealers will be notified and will be able to place orders.
Courtesy Transportation
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.
Claim Information
Submit a Product Recall claim with the information shown.
Refer to the General Motors WINS claims Processing Manual for details on Product Recall claim Submission.
Customer Notification
General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter shown in this bulletin).
Dealer Recall Responsibility -- For US
The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle which 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.
Dealer Recall Responsibility -- All
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 listings, 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 shown 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, please take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.
Disclaimer