Recall - Passenger-Side Front Air Bag Replacement: Overview
# 08342: Product Safety - Passenger-Side Front Air Bag May Not Fully Deploy or May Fracture(Oct 6, 2008)
Subject:
08342 -- Passenger Side Front Air Bag May Not Fully Deploy or May Fracture
Models:
2009 Chevrolet Impala
The service procedure in this bulletin involves the removal of the passenger-side front air bag.
DO NOT DEPLOY THE INFLATABLE RESTRAINT MODULE.
After claim payment, US dealers will receive a request to return the module to the GM Warranty Parts Center; Canadian dealers will be contacted by GM with shipping instructions. Follow the instructions in the service procedure for proper storage of the module.
Condition
General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2009 model year Chevrolet Impala vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a passenger-side front air bag inflator that could fracture at an inflator tube during a deployment. During a passenger-side front air bag deployment, pieces of the inflator tube could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the airbag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the passenger.
Correction
Dealers are to install a new passenger-side front air bag.
Vehicles Involved
Important:
Dealers are to confirm vehicle eligibility prior to beginning repairs by using the GM Vehicle Inquiry System (GMVIS). Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.
For dealers with involved vehicles, a listing with involved vehicles containing the complete vehicle identification number, customer name, and address information has been prepared and will be provided through the applicable system listed below. Dealers will not have a report available if they have no involved vehicles currently assigned.
- US dealers - GM DealerWorld Recall Information
- Canadian dealers - GMinfoNet Recall Reports
The listing 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
Service Procedure
1. Remove the passenger side inflatable restraint module from the vehicle. Refer to Instrument Panel Inflatable Restraint Module Replacement (Impala) in SI.
Warning:
When carrying an undeployed inflator module:
^ Do not carry the inflator module by the wires or connector.
^ Make sure the air bag opening points away from you.
^ When storing an undeployed inflator module:
- Make sure the air bag opening points away from the surface on which the inflator module rests.
- Provide free space for the air bag to expand in case of an accidental deployment.
- Store the module in a secure location.
- Failure to observe these guidelines may result in personal injury.
2. Do NOT deploy the inflatable restraint module. After claim payment, US dealers will receive a request to return the module to the GM Warranty Parts Center; Canadian dealers will be contacted by GM with shipping instructions. Follow the above instructions for proper storage of the module.
3. Install a new inflatable restraint module on the passenger's side of the vehicle. Refer to Instrument Panel Inflatable Restraint Module Replacement (Impala) in SI.
Courtesy Transportation
The General Motors Courtesy Transportation program is intended to minimize customer inconvenience when a vehicle requires a repair that is covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranties. The availability of courtesy transportation to customers whose vehicles are within the warranty coverage period and involved in a product program is very important in maintaining customer satisfaction. Dealers are to ensure that these customers understand that shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation is available and will be provided at no charge. Dealers should refer to the General Motors Service Policies and Procedures Manual for Courtesy Transportation guidelines.
Claim Information
Customer Notification
General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter shown in this bulletin).
Dealer Recall Responsibility - For US (US States, Territories, and Possessions)
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. If 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.
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 shown 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