Recall - Brake Lamps Inoperative/Continuously ON: Overview
SAFETYBulletin No.: 09049A
Date: March 14, 2011
Subject: 09049A - Brake Lamps Inoperative or Continuous Illumination
Models:
2004-2009 Chevrolet Colorado
2004-2009 GMC Canyon
Registered in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah
Supercede:
The Part Information, Service Procedure, and Warranty Transaction Information sections in this bulletin have been revised to include the replacement of burned out brake lamp bulb(s). Please discard all copies of bulletin 09049, issued July 2010.
Condition
General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2004-2009 model year Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles registered in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Utah. Some of these vehicles have a brake lamp switch that may not work as designed due to contamination in the switch. Performance of the brakes is not affected. However, this condition could cause the simultaneous loss of all brake lamps or cause all of the brake lamps to stay on continuously. Both of these conditions could fail to warn others of the driver's intentions and could lead to a vehicle crash. Also, if equipped, the cruise control could become inoperative.
Correction
Dealers are to install a new brake lamp switch assembly.
Vehicles Involved
Involved are certain 2004-2009 model year Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles registered in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Utah, and built within these VIN breakpoints:
Important
Dealers are to confirm vehicle eligibility prior to beginning repairs by using the Investigate Vehicle History link. 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 to dealers through the GM GlobalConnect Recall Reports. Dealers will not have a report available if they have no involved vehicles currently assigned.
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
Parts required to complete this recall are to be obtained from General Motors Customer Care and Aftersales (GMCC&A). 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
1. Remove the stop lamp switch from the vehicle. Refer to Stop Lamp Replacement in SI.
2. Install a new stop lamp switch. Refer to Stop Lamp Replacement in SI.
3. If the brake lamp bulb(s) require replacement, refer to Tail Lamp Assembly and/or Backup, Side Marker, Stop, Turn Signal Bulb Replacement in SI.
Customer Reimbursement - For GM US
All customer requests for reimbursement of previously paid repairs for the recall condition will be handled by the Customer Assistance Center, not by dealers.
Important
(For GM US Only) Refer to the GM Service Policies and Procedures Manual, section 6.1.12, for specific procedures regarding customer reimbursement and the form.
Customer Reimbursement - For Canada and Export
Customer requests for reimbursement of previously paid repairs for the recall condition are to be submitted to the dealer by August 31, 2011.
All reasonable customer paid receipts should be considered for reimbursement. The amount to be reimbursed will be limited to the amount the repair would have cost if completed by an authorized General Motors dealer.
When a customer requests reimbursement, they must provide the following:
- Proof of ownership at time of repair.
- Original paid receipt confirming the amount of repair expense(s) that were not reimbursed, a description of the repair, and the person or entity performing the repair.
Claims for customer reimbursement on previously paid repairs are to be submitted as required by WINS.
Important
Refer to the GM Service Policies and Procedures Manual, section 6.1.12, for specific procedures regarding customer reimbursement verification.
Courtesy Transportation - For US and Canada
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.
Warranty Transaction Information
Submit a transaction using the table below.
* The amount identified in the "Net Item" column should represent the dollar amount reimbursed to the customer.
Customer Notification - For US and Canada
General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).
Customer Notification - For Export
Letters will be sent to known owners of record located within areas covered by the US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. For owners outside these areas, dealers should notify customers using the attached sample letter.
Dealer Recall Responsibility - For US and Export (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 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