Recall - Front Seat Belt Buckle: Overview
No.: SR-95-002DATE: October, 1995
MODEL: 1986 - 1991 Models
SUBJECT:
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE SAFETY RECALL
PURPOSE
Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc (MMSA) is voluntarily recalling certain 1986-1991 vehicles for inspection and repair of front seat belt buckle release buttons. A broken release button may prevent the buckle from latching or unlatching.
A letter is being sent to all affected vehicle owners over a ten month period telling them to return their vehicles to their Mitsubishi Motors dealer to have their front seat belt buckles repaired or replaced at no charge to the customer. A copy of this letter is shown in this bulletin. Customer notification will be mailed according to the following schedule. Parts availability is based on this notification schedule.
Some parts will be automatically shipped to dealers during the first week of November and subsequent months through August 1996, in accordance with the customer notification schedule. If a customer has a broken seat belt buckle, replace the buckle assembly immediately regardless of the notification schedule.
DETAILS
On 1989, 1990 and 1991 Mirages, the front seat lap belt buckle assemblies must always be replaced. On other affected vehicles, front seat belt buckles produced before January 1991 must be disassembled and a Buckle Repair Kit containing a new release button must be installed on both front seat buckles. The lot number on the buckle indicates the production date.
This recall does not include rear seat belts or the passive front shoulder belt portion of the seat belt assembly.
Mitsubishi training videotape # 61, "Front Seat Belt Buckle Safety Recall" and its associated test booklet are included with this dealer recall package. Dealers are required to review the videotape and take the test. Follow the test booklet instructions.
VEHICLES AFFECTED
Certain 1986-1991 Mitsubishi models.
REQUIRED OPERATIONS
Perform the required operations on both front seat belts. The flowchart shows the general description of the required operations. Details of the required operations are contained in the PROCEDURE section of this bulletin.
1. Check both front seat belt buckle lot numbers to determine whether either one is involved in this recall. It is possible that one of the buckles is a later model than the other one. Step I on page 6 of this bulletin describes how to determine the buckle production date.
IMPORTANT:
Buckles produced after January 1991 are not included in this recall.
a. If the buckle lot number is not within the affected production range, it is not necessary to perform buckle repair or replacement. If both front seat buckles are out of the affected production range, check for proper seat belt buckle operation, then complete a warranty claim for seat belt buckle inspection only.
2. For 1989, 1990 and 1991 Mirage models, replace the front lap seat belt buckle assembly. For bench seat center lap belt buckles on Trucks, replace the buckle assembly if the release button is broken or if the buckle does not operate properly.
For all other affected models:
3. Check the color of the seat belt buckle cover. If the cover is black, install a gray Buckle Repair Kit on both sides. Black Buckle Repair kits are not available.
4. Verify that the appropriate Buckle Repair Kit(s) are available before proceeding with this recall procedure.
On 1986-87 model years, note the color of the buckle ejector plate. A white ejector plate requires a different Buckle Repair Kit than a black ejector plate.
5. Disassemble the seat belt buckle.
6. Check for debris inside the buckle. If necessary, remove debris from inside the buckle with compressed air. Use low pressure air to prevent dislodging the springs. If debris cannot be removed, replace the seat belt buckle assembly as described in the appropriate service manual.
7. Check for contamination inside the buckle (from soft drinks, etc.). If contaminated, replace the seat belt buckle assembly as described in the appropriate service manual.
8. Replace the release button using the Buckle Repair Kit.
9. Check the seat belt buckle for proper operation. If the buckle does not latch or unlatch properly or the seat belt switch does not operate properly, then replace the buckle assembly as described in the appropriate service manual.
10. Confirm proper seat belt buckle and warning lamp operation.
PARTS INFORMATION
Refer to Parts Bulletin TI-GP-02-95 for part number information.
^ A Buckle Repair Kit contains a new release button, new upper and lower buckle covers, and a new latch spring for two front seat buckles. (Buckles with a white ejector plate do not have a latch spring. These repair kits will not include a spring.)
^ Use gray repair kits for black seat belt buckles. Buckle repair kits for black buckles are not available.
Some parts will be automatically shipped to dealers during the first week of November and subsequent months through August 1996, in accordance with the customer notification schedule printed in this bulletin. Refer to Parts Bulletin TI-GP-02-95 for details.