Recall - Seat Belt Buckle Inoperative: Overview
# 05113C: Product Safety - Safety Belt Buckle Inoperative(Apr 23, 2008)
Subject:
05113C -- SAFETY BELT BUCKLE INOPERATIVE
Models:
2003-2006 CHEVROLET EXPRESS
2003-2006 GMC SAVANA
Additional population has been added to this recall. Please discard all copies of bulletin 05113B, issued June 2006.
Condition
General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2003-2006 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles. Some of these vehicles have safety belt buckles that may not latch or unlatch. If a safety belt buckle does not latch, that seating position should not be used and another seating position should be used if possible. If a safety belt buckle does not unlatch, it may require cutting of the belt to release the occupant. Occupants in a vehicle should always wear a safety belt or an increased risk to personal injury can occur in the event of a vehicle crash.
Correction
Dealers are to inspect the safety belt buckles and replace either the buckle cover or the entire buckle assembly.
Vehicles Involved
Involved are certain 2003-2006 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles built within the 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 and Canada: For dealers with involved vehicles, a Campaign Initiation Detail Report (CIDR) containing the complete vehicle identification number, customer name and address data has been prepared and will be loaded to the GM DealerWorld (US) Recall Information, GMinfoNet (Canada) Recall Reports. Dealers will not have a report available if they have no involved vehicles currently assigned.
For Export: 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 will not receive a report with the recall bulletin if they have no involved vehicles currently assigned.
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 required to complete this recall are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles" 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.
Customer Reimbursement - For GM US
All customer requests for reimbursement for previous 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 reguarding customer reimbursement.
Customer Reimbursement - For Canada and Export
Customer requests for reimbursement of previously paid repairs to correct the recall condition are to be submitted to the dealer by April 30, 2009.
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 1.6.2, 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 Warranty. The availability of courtesy transportation to customers whose vehicles are within the warranty coverage period and involved in a product recall 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
Submit a Product Recall Claim with the information shown.
Customer Notification - For US and Canada
General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter shown in 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 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 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