Letters
SUGGESTED OWNER FOLLOW-UP LETTERGeneral Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in all 1985 and some 1986 Oldsmobile Calais models. The secondary hood latch may be incorrectly aligned, and/or may exhibit a binding condition of the latch pivot. Either of these conditions could prevent adequate engagement of the secondary hood latch to the front end support when the hood is in the closed position. In addition, the primary hood latch "pop-up" lever may be mispositioned. This could cause the hood to appear closed without being completely latched.
If the secondary hood latch is incorrectly aligned and/or is binding at the latch pivot, and the primary hood latch is not completely engaged to the hood, the hood could unexpectly open while the vehicle is in motion. Should this occur, the hood may contact the vehicle windshield reducing the forward vision area of the driver, and a vehicle crash without prior warning could occur.
To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring on your vehicle, please contact us to arrange a service date. Our Service Department will replace the secondary hood latch and inspect the primary hood latch pop-up lever for correct alignment and function and, if necessary, align the pop-up lever or replace the primary hood latch.
Please contact our service department on telephone number in order to arrange a mutually
satisfactory date to have this service performed on your vehicle. The labor time to perform this service is approximately 15 minutes.
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.
TO ALL OLDSMOBILE DEALERS:
Oldsmobile Division is releasing Campaign 86-C-06 involving all 1985 and some 1986 Calais models. The secondary hood latch on involved vehicles may be incorrectly aligned and/or may exhibit a binding condition of the latch pivot. Either of these conditions could prevent adequate engagement of the secondary hood latch to the front end support when the hood is in the closed position. In addition, the primary hood latch "pop-up" lever may be mispositioned. This could cause the hood to appear closed without being completely latched.
If the secondary hood latch is incorrectly aligned and/or is binding at the latch pivot and the primary hood latch is not completely engaged to the hood, the hood could unexpectedly open while the vehicle is in motion. Should this occur, the hood may contact the vehicle windshield reducing the forward vision area of the driver and a vehicle crash without prior warning could occur.
To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring on vehicles involved, dealers are to replace the secondary hood latch and inspect the primary hood latch pop-up lever for correct alignment and function and, if necessary, align the pop-up lever or replace the primary hood latch as described in the Service Procedure of Product Campaign Bulletin 86-C-06.
The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle 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 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 owners 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 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 Oldsmobile 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.
If your dealership has vehicles involved in this campaign, you will receive the following: one printout of vehicles in VIN sequence and one printout of vehicles in alphabetical sequence by owner name.
These printouts contain the complete Vehicle Identification Number and owner name and address data, and are furnished to the involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Owner name and address data will enable dealers to follow up with owners involved in this campaign.
These listings may contain owner 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 followup necessary to complete this campaign.
Enclosed with this letter are:
Two Product Campaign Bulletins 86-C-06 Copy of Owner Letter Copy of Suggested Owner Follow-up Letter
Dealers with vehicles to correct will also receive:
One Printout of Vehicles in VIN Sequence One Printout of Vehicles in Alphabetical Sequence
Your cooperation in completing this campaign as soon as possible will be greatly appreciated.