Recall - Child Seat Top Tether Anchor Not Accessible: Overview
FMVSS NONCOMPLIANCEBulletin No.: 10367
Date: December 06, 2010
Subject: 10367 - Child Restraint Top Tether Anchor Not Accessible for Front Center Seating Position
Models:
2004-2011 Chevrolet Colorado
2004-2011 GMC Canyon
Regular Cab, Extended Cab without Rear Seats
Equipped with a Front 60/40 Split Bench Seat
Condition
General Motors has decided that certain 2004-2011 model year Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon regular cab vehicles and extended cab vehicles without a rear seat, and equipped with a front 60/40 split bench seat fail to conform to Federal/Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 225, (CMVSS) 210.1, Child Restraint Anchorage Systems. The child restraint top tether anchor for the front center seat position in these vehicles is not accessible as required by the Standard. Without the top tether anchor, the child restraint may not be properly secured. FMVSS 225 also requires that the Owner Manual includes a step-by-step procedure for attaching a child restraint top tether to a vehicle top tether anchor.
Correction
Unsold vehicles in dealer inventory, dealers are to modify the back panel trim cover to allow access to the top tether anchor and insert a supplement into the Owner Manual.
Sold vehicles in customer hands, dealers are to provide a supplement to the Owner Manual that describes how to install a child restraint using a top tether in the center position. Dealers are to modify the back panel trim cover to allow access to the top tether anchor, if requested by the customer.
Vehicles Involved
Involved are certain 2004-2011 model year Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon regular cab vehicles and extended cab vehicles without a rear seat, and equipped with a front 60/40 split bench seat.
All involved vehicles are identified by VIN in the Global Warranty Management System - Investigate Vehicle History (GMVIS2) Application. Dealership technicians should always check this site to confirm vehicle involvement prior to beginning any required inspections and/or repairs. It is essential to routinely verify eligibility because not all similar vehicles may be involved regardless of description or option content.
For dealers with involved vehicles, a listing with involved vehicles containing the complete vehicle identification number, 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.
Parts Information
No parts are required for this recall.
Service Procedure
1. For vehicles in dealer inventory, proceed to Step 3 and cut a hole in the back panel trim cover to allow access to the tether anchor.
2. For customer vehicles, provide the customer with a copy of the letter at the back of this bulletin (customers involved in this recall did not receive a letter) and after the customer has read the letter, ask the customer if they want this recall performed on their vehicle. DO NOT PERFORM THIS RECALL ON CUSTOMER VEHICLES WITHOUT THE CUSTOMER'S CONSENT.
- If the customer does NOT want this recall performed on their vehicle, place a copy of the Owner Manual Supplement (located at the end of this service procedure) in the Owner Manual. No further action is required. Submit a transaction using labor code T5799.
- If the customer DOES want this recall performed on their vehicle, proceed to the following step.
3. Move the driver and passenger seats to the full-forward position.
4. Remove the tether access cover. The cover is located on the passenger side of the vehicle.
5. Using a tape measure and pen, measure 341 mm (13 7/16 in) from the inboard side of the tether access hole to the center of the second (center) tether access point. Mark the center of the hole with a pen.
6. Using a tape measure and pen, measure and mark 461 mm (18 1/8 in) from the bottom of the trim panel upward to the measurement and cross mark the location made in Step 5.
Note
To avoid damaging the sheet metal behind the trim panel, the drill bit must NOT extend more than 12 mm (3/16 in) from the outside edge of the hole saw.
7. Using a 63.5 mm (2.5 in) hole saw, cut a hole in the panel to gain access to the center tether access anchor point. Use the marks made in Steps 5 and 6 as your center point for the cut.
8. Clean the edge of the hole with a file. The actual hole will appear slightly larger than shown in the illustration.
9. Clean the debris from the floor using a vacuum cleaner.
10. Reinstall the tether access cover over the passenger side tether access point.
11. Move the driver and passenger seats back to the desired position.
12. Place a copy of the 2-page Owner Manual Supplement (found below) in the Owner Manual in the glove compartment.
THIS INFORMATION IS IN ADDITION TO THE CHILD RESTRAINT INFORMATION CONTAINED IN YOUR OWNER MANUAL
Where to Put the Restraint
According to accident statistics, children and infants are safer when properly restrained in a child restraint system or infant restraint system secured in a rear seating position.
General Motors recommends that children and child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including: an infant or a child riding in a rear-facing child restraint; a child riding in a forward-facing child seat; an older child riding in a booster seat; and children, who are large enough, using safety belts.
Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front. This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
Warning
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag inflates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating airbag. A child in a forward-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag inflates and the passenger seat is in a forward position.
The vehicle may have a passenger sensing system or a manual airbag on-off switch which is designed to turn off the right front passenger frontal airbag under certain conditions. Even if the passenger sensing system or manual airbag on-off switch, if equipped, has turned off the right front passenger frontal airbag, no system is fail-safe. No one can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off.
Secure rear-facing child restraints in a rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If you secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in the back of a vehicle equipped with a rear seat.
See "Passenger Sensing System" or "Airbag On-Off Switch" in the vehicle owner manual for additional information.
Warning
A child in a child restraint in the center front seat can be badly injured or killed by the frontal airbags if they inflate. Never secure a child restraint in the center front seat. It is always better to secure a child restraint in a rear seat.
Do not use child restraints in the center front seat position.
General Motors understands that there may be certain circumstances where it is necessary to transport a child in a forward-facing child restraint in your vehicle. In these cases, we recommend placing the forward-facing child restraint in the right front passenger seat where a top tether anchor is already accessible. The vehicle may have a passenger sensing system or a manual airbag on-off switch which is designed to turn off the right front passenger frontal airbag under certain conditions. In addition, a forward-facing child restraint installed in the right front passenger seat would not interact with the driver frontal airbag. Rear-facing child restraints should not be installed in vehicles without a rear seat, even if the airbag is off. See "Child Restraints" in the vehicle owner manual for instructions on how to install a child restraint in the right front seat position.
Securing Forward-Facing Child Restraints (Center Front Seat Position)
For vehicles without rear seats, manufacturers are required to provide top tether anchors for all non-driver seating positions and instructions for using those anchors. Even if a top tether anchor is available, you should not install a child restraint in the center front seating position.
Warning
A child in a child restraint in the center front seat can be badly injured or killed by the frontal airbags if they inflate. Never secure a child restraint in the center front seat. It is always better to secure a child restraint in a rear seat.
In addition, some larger child restraints, if installed in the center front seating position, may interfere with access to the driver and right front passenger safety belt buckles. See "Safety Belts" in the vehicle owner manual for information, including warnings, about the importance of safety belt use.
If you must transport a forward-facing child restraint in the center front seat position, you must have a hole in the back panel trim cover to allow access to the top tether anchor for that position. If your vehicle does not already have a hole, you must have a service procedure performed on your vehicle prior to securing a forward-facing child restraint in the center front seat position. Your GM dealer will cut a hole into the back panel trim cover to allow access to the top tether anchor for the front center seat position. This service procedure will be performed for you at no charge.
The lap belt would be used to secure a child restraint in this position, following the instructions that came with the child restraint.
1. Adjust the driver seat to the desired driving position. Fold the armrest up, if equipped. Move the passenger seat so that the seat and seatback are aligned with the driver seat and seatback positions. See the appropriate section in the vehicle owner manual for more information on adjusting the seat and seatback.
2. Place the child restraint on the seat.
3. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends using a top tether anchor, attach the top tether on the child restraint to the top tether anchor on the vehicle. Route the top tether according to the child restraint instructions and the following instructions:
1. Route the top tether over the center seatback or folding armrest, if equipped.
2. Attach the top tether to the slots in the back panel as shown. Do not tighten the top tether at this time.
4. Pick up the latch plate on the center position lap safety belt, and run the lap safety belt through the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how.
5. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Position the release button on the buckle so that the safety belt can be unbuckled.
6. Tighten the center position lap belt by pulling on the loose end of the belt. It may be helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt.
7. Tighten the top tether. Follow the child restraint manufacturer's instructions.
8. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is securely held in place. To check, grasp the child restraint at the safety belt path and attempt to move it side to side and back and forth. When the child restraint is properly installed, there should be no more than 2.5 cm (1 in) of movement.
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.
Warranty Transaction Information
Submit a transaction using the table below.
* The amount identified in Net Item should be the actual cost of a 2.5 in (63.5 mm) hole saw, not to exceed $15.00 USD, $15.04 CAD.
Customer Notification
General Motors did not notify customers involved in this recall. The customer names and addresses were not available. If a customer involved in this recall comes into your dealership, please provide them with a copy of the customer letter included with 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 if requested by the customer. 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 facility may be subject to a civil penalty for each such sale.
Dealer Recall Responsibility
All unsold new vehicles in dealer's 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 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.
In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your facility for service in the future, you must take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been addressed before selling or releasing the vehicle.
Note
For involved customer vehicles that visit your dealership for service, addressing the recall correction involves obtaining the customer's permission to perform the required repair.
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