Campaign - Second Row Safety Belt/Seat Back Interference: Overview
SAFETYBulletin No.: 10243A
Date: August 24, 2010
Subject: 10243A - Second Row Safety Belt Interference When Seat Back Returned to Upright Position
Models:
2009-2010 Buick Enclave
2009-2010 Chevrolet Traverse
2009-2010 GMC Acadia
2009-2010 Saturn OUTLOOK
Supercede:
The Service Procedure section in this bulletin has been revised. Illustrations of seat configurations have been added to Step 3. A dimensional change was made to Step 4 for appearance purposes only.Please discard all copies of bulletin 10243, issued August 2010.
Condition
General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2009-2010 model year Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Saturn OUTLOOK vehicles. These vehicles may have a condition where the second row seat side trim shield restricts the upward rotation of the safety belt buckle when the seat back is returned to a seating position after being folded flat. If the buckle contacts the seat frame, additional effort is required to return the seat to a seating position. If sufficient force is applied, the buckle cover could be pushed down the strap, exposing and partially depressing the red release button. As a result, the release button will not travel as much as designed when depressed and will appear to be jammed. The buckle cover may have visible damage which may only be cosmetic, but in some cases, the buckle may not latch/unlatch, or may appear to latch when the latch mechanism is not fully engaged. As a result, the safety belt may not restrain the occupant as intended during a crash, which could result in injury to the occupant.
Correction
Dealers/retailers are to modify the second row seat side trim shields. If a safety belt buckle is damaged, dealers are to replace it.
Vehicles Involved
Involved are certain 2009-2010 model year Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints:
Important
Dealers/retailers 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/retailers 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 US and Canadian dealers/retailers through the GM GlobalConnect Recall Reports, or sent directly to export dealers. Dealers/retailers 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 program 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 program.
Parts Information
It is anticipated that there will be no parts required for this program. In the rare event that a safety belt buckle does need replacing, please obtain the appropriate part from General Motors Customer Care and Aftersales (GMCC&A). 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. Inspect all 2nd row seat assemblies for proper function.
Note
Test the operation of the belt buckle. Latch the buckle and pull on the seat belt to ensure the seat belt functions properly.
2. Verify proper functioning of the belt buckles and visually inspect each buckle/release button for damage. Refer to the illustration for an example of a damaged buckle.
- If evidence of buckle damage such as a bent or cracked plastic housing is found, or if stressed witness marks are visible on the housing, replace the seat belt buckle. Refer to Rear Seat Belt Buckle Replacement in SI, and then continue on and complete the trim cover rework procedure below.
- If no buckle damage is found, complete the trim cover rework below on the seat(s).
Left hand bucket seat in its normal seating position.
Left hand bucket seat in smart slide position. This is the position that the seat must be in to remove the recliner inner trim cover.
Left hand 60 percent bench seat in its normal seating position.
Left hand 60 percent bench seat in the smart slide position. This is the position that the seat must be in to remove the recliner inner trim cover.
Note
The procedure below shows the rework being done on a left hand bucket seat trim cover. The same procedure should be done for the right hand bucket seat and both covers of the bench seat (60% and 40%). Refer to the illustrations above for examples of the different seat configurations.
3. Remove the rear seat recliner inner trim cover (1). Refer to Rear Seat Recliner Outer Finish Cover Replacement - Inboard in SI.
Note
The material to be removed is the standing ledge (1) in the notched-out opening, shown in the examples above. Depending on the design and seat configuration, approximately 12-15 mm (15/32-19/32 in) of material (2) will need to be removed so that the entire flange is removed all the way to the vertical wall of the cover.
4. Using a DREMEL(R), cut-off wheel, or similar tool, grind off/remove the cover's standing ledge material in the notched-out opening.
Note
Maintain the original notch out width (1) of approximately 82 mm (3.230 in) and remove the material until the surface edge is even with the vertical wall surface (2).
5. After the material has been removed, file down any jagged edges or corners that may tend to snag the buckle material.
6. Reinstall the rear seat recliner inner trim cover. Refer to Rear Seat Recliner Outer Finish Cover Replacement - Inboard in SI.
7. After the rework and installation of the trim cover, verify proper function of the seat assembly.
8. Complete the rework on the trim cover for the opposite seat.
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/retailers 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
1. Submit a claim using the table below.
2. Courtesy Transportation - submit as Net Item under the repair labor code.
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