Owner Letter
Dear Buick Customer:This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
SAFETY NON-COMPLIANCE RECALL FOR:
General Motors has determined that certain 1997 LeSabre and 1996 Park Avenue/Ultra model vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies". These vehicles may have been assembled with one or more incorrect seat belt and/or seat belt buckle ends. If an incorrect part is used, the seat belt may not latch properly increasing the risk of injury to the occupant should a vehicle crash occur.
ACTION:
To correct this condition and in order to comply with FMVSS 209, customers/dealers will inspect all front and rear seat belt latch ends and seat belt buckle ends for correct parts. Dealers will replace any incorrect parts. This service will be performed for you at no charge.
INSPECTION:
You may inspect the seat belt latch ends and seat belt buckle ends yourself or ask your Buick dealer to inspect them for you. If you want to inspect them yourself and possibly save a trip to your dealer, please follow the attached procedure.
HOW LONG WILL REPAIR TAKE?
If you take your vehicle to your Buick dealer for inspection/parts replacement, the labor time necessary to perform this service correction is approximately 15 minuets to three (3) hours. Additionally, one or two hours may be required to schedule and process your vehicle. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed.
CONTACTING YOUR BUICK DEALER:
If you choose to have your Buick dealer perform the inspection or require a part replacement, please contact your dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date and courtesy transportation, if required. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer and parts are available.
Your Buick dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service to ensure that your vehicle is corrected as promptly as possible. If, however, you take your vehicle to your dealer on the agreed service date, and they do not remedy this condition on that date or within five (5) days, we recommend you contact the Buick Customer Relations Center by calling 1-800-521-7300.
After contacting your dealer and the Customer Relations Center, if you are still not satisfied that 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 Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington D.C. residents use 202-366-0123).
CUSTOMER REPLY CARD:
The enclosed customer reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction in the shortest possible time. If you have inspected the vehicle yourself and parts replacement is not required or if you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage paid reply card and returning it to us.
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.
SEAT BELT LATCH END AND SEAT BELT BUCKLE END INSPECTION
IMPORTANT:
ALL FRONT AND REAR BELTS AND BUCKLES MUST BE INSPECTED.
1. Inspect all seat belt latch ends and buckle ends in your vehicle to verify that they resemble the appropriate illustration. All six belt ends and all six buckle ends must be inspected.
1a. If all parts are correct, be sure to fill out the postage paid reply card enclosed with this letter and check "service was done as requested on; "date the card, sign card, and return it to Buick Motor Division, This will allow us to remove your vehicle from further campaign follow-up communications.
1b. If any belt latch end or buckle end is incorrect, please make an appointment with your dealer to have the correct part(s) installed.