Example of Customer Letter

Example of Customer Letter

January 1997

Safety Recall: SLX Rear Center Seat Belt Buckle

Dear SLX Owner:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

What is the reason for this notice?

Isuzu Motors Ltd., the manufacturer, has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1996 Acura SLX models. Some rear center seat belt buckles are mismatched with the center seat belt tongue. This prevents the belt from fastening, leaving the passenger sitting in the rear center seat without a safety restraint. If a collision occurs, an unrestrained occupant could be severely injured or killed.

What should you do?

Your SLX needs to be inspected to see if the correct rear center seat belt buckle is installed. You can do this inspection yourself, take your vehicle into any authorized Acura dealership, or make an appointment to have the dealer come to your place of business, or to your home, and perform the inspection procedure.

Usually, your vehicle will only require an inspection, and the buckle will not need to be replaced. If replacement is necessary, the dealer will order a new part. Although replacement parts are now available, there is a limited supply and the dealer will not have parts on-hand. The inspection and any necessary repair will be done free of charge.

If you inspect your vehicle yourself

To inspect the rear center seat belt, try to insert the latch plate into the buckle (both are stamped "CENTER"). If they latch and unlatch normally, please complete and return the enclosed SLX Seat Belt Recall postcard. We will update our records so you are not sent any more notification of this recall. If the latch plate will not go into the buckle and latch properly, a new buckle assembly needs to be installed. Contact an Acura dealer immediately and make arrangements to have the buckle assembly replaced.

If you take your vehicle to the dealership for inspection

If you choose not to inspect the seat belt yourself, call an Acura dealer and make an appointment to have it inspected. This only takes a few minutes. If the buckle assembly needs to be replaced, the dealer will have to order the part. Make an appointment to have this work done at the dealership, at your home, or at your place of business.

If the dealer comes to your place of business or to your home to perform the inspection

If taking your SLX to the dealership is inconvenient, you may elect to have a representative from the dealership come to your home or office to perform the inspection. If the buckle assembly needs to be replaced, you will then need to make arrangements to have the work done at the dealership, at your home, or at your office after the dealer obtains the part. This repair takes only a few minutes.

If the rear center seat belt cannot be latched properly, avoid using this seating position until the recall replacement has been performed.

Who to contact If you experience problems.

If you are not satisfied with the service you receive from your Acura dealer, you may write to:

American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Acura Customer Relations Dept.
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746

If you believe that American Honda or the dealer has failed or is unable to remedy the defect in your car, without charge, within a reasonable period of time (60 days from the date you first contact the dealer for a repair appointment), you may submit a complaint to:

Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590

Or call the toll Area Auto Safety Hotline at (800) 424-9393. Residents of Washington, DC should call (202) 366-0123.

What to do If you feel this notice is In error.

This notice was mailed to you according to the most current information we have available. If you no longer own this vehicle, or some information in this notice is incorrect, please fill out and return the included, postage-paid Information Change Card. This will help us update our records.

If you have questions.

If you have questions about this notice, or need assistance with contacting an Acura dealer, please call the Acura Customer Relations Department at (800) 382-2238.

Thank you for your cooperation. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.