Defect & Vehicles Involved, Owner Notification & Campaign Responsibility Information

DEFECT INVOLVED

General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to Motor Vehicle Safety exists in some 1983, 1984 and 1985 Pontiac Firebird models. In some of these vehicles, dislocation of a spring cover in the shoulder belt retractor will allow the shoulder belt to be extended but will not allow it to retract again. While the inertial feature that "locks" the shoulder belt in the event of an accident and the operation of the lap belt are not affected, if the amount of slack introduced in the shoulder belt is more than recommended in the owner's manual it is likely that the injuries to the upper body and head will be increased in the event of an accident.
VEHICLES INVOLVED

The involved vehicles are all 1983, 1984 and 1985 Pontiac Firebird models within the following vehicle breakpoints:

PLANT YEAR FROM THROUGH

NORWOOD 1983-1984 SOP EOP
1985 SOP FN222435
Van Nuys 1983-1984 SOP EOP
1985 SOP FL628563

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.

The 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 follow-up necessary to complete this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin was not shipped any involved vehicles.

OWNER NOTIFICATION

Owners will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by Pontiac Division (see copy of Owner Letter included with this bulletin).

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to owners, 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 before reselling or releasing the vehicle.

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.