Recall - Headlamp Non-Compliance: Overview
File In Section: Product RecallsBulletin No.: 04052
Date: September 2004
SUBJECT:
HEADLAMP COMPLIANCE
MODELS:
1999 BUICK CENTURY, REGAL
CONDITION
General Motors has decided that certain 1999 model year Buick Century and Regal vehicles fail to conform to Federal/Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. Some of these vehicles do not meet the overhead sign illumination requirements in the Standard. Less illumination may reduce the ability of the driver to read overhead signs when driving at night.
CORRECTION
Dealers are to install new low beam headlamp bulbs in both headlamp assemblies.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1999 model year Buick Century and Regal vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints shown.
IMPORTANT:
Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) prior to 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:
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 is being furnished to involved dealers. Dealers that have no involved vehicles currently assigned, will not receive a Campaign Initiation Detail Report.
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 purpose other than follow-up necessary to complete this recall 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 recall.
PARTS INFORMATION
Parts Pre-Ship Information
Important:
An initial supply of bulb assemblies required to complete this recall will be pre-shipped to involved dealers of record. This pre-shipment is scheduled to begin the week of August 30, 2004, and will be approximately 20% of each dealer's involved vehicles. Pre-shipped parts will be charged to dealer's open parts account.
Additional parts, if required, are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" before ordering parts. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. In an emergency situation, parts should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
The following procedure provides instructions for replacing both LOW beam headlamp bulbs.
Important
Aiming of the headlamp assembly is not required when replacing the bulb.
1. Turn the headlamp and ignition switch to the OFF position.
2. Open the hood.
3. While applying light inward pressure to the headlamp lens, locate and pull up on the two retainers to release the headlamp assembly from the body.
4. Pull the headlamp assembly forward out of the body opening.
5. Remove the rubber access cover from behind the LOW beam bulb you are replacing.
Caution
Halogen bulbs contain gas under pressure. Handling a bulb improperly could cause it to shatter into flying glass fragments. To help avoid personal injury:
^ Turn off the lamp switch and allow the bulb to cool before changing the bulb.
^ Leave the lamp switch OFF until the bulb change is complete.
^ Always wear eye protection when changing a halogen bulb.
^ Handle the bulb only by its base. Avoid touching the glass.
^ Keep dirt and moisture off of the bulb.
^ Properly dispose of the used bulb.
^ Keep halogen bulbs out of the reach of children.
6. Rotate or turn the bulb socket counter-clockwise to unlock and remove it from the headlamp assembly.
7. Disconnect the electrical connector from the bulb.
8. Connect the electrical connector to the new bulb.
9. Insert the new bulb into the opening in the headlamp and turn clockwise to lock into place.
10. Install the rubber access cover.
11. Position the headlamp assembly into the opening in the body.
12. While applying light inward pressure to the headlamp lens, insert the two retainers to secure the assembly to the vehicle.
13. Repeat this procedure on the opposite headlamp.
14. Close the hood.
CLAIM INFORMATION
Submit a Product Recall Claim with the information indicated.
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 included with this bulletin).
DEALER RECALL RESPONSIBILITY - For US
The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle that 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. It 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.
This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this recall may not comply with the standard identified above. Under Title 49, Section 30112 of the United States Code, it is illegal for a dealer to sell a new motor vehicle which the dealer knows does not comply with an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. As a consequence, if you sell any of these motor vehicles without first performing the recall correction, your dealership may be subject to a civil penalty for each such sale.
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 listing, 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 provided 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, you must take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.
Disclaimer