Recall - Engine Compartment Fire Hazard: Overview
89pontiac08Number: 84-C-15B Date: March 1989
Subject: PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 84-C-15B NON-COLLISION ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
MODELS AFFECTED: 1984 PONTIAC FIERO MODELS
THIS CAMPAIGN BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO DELETE INFORMATION PERTAINING TO ENGINE KITS AND REIMBURSEMENTS AND TO ADD LABOR OPERATIONS FOR REBUILDING OF ENGINES. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER BULLETINS AND DCS MESSAGES WITH REGARD TO 84-C-15.
TO: ALL PONTIAC DEALERS
The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, provides that each vehicle which is subject to a recall campaign of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the owner has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within sixty (60) 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 owner 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 solutions, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each owner and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the letter that is being sent to owners, the owners are being instructed to contact the Pontiac Customer Assistance Center if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five days of the mutually agreed upon service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, they are instructed on how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
DEFECT INVOLVED
General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1984 Pontiac Fieros.
An interaction of the engine compartment environment in 1984 Fieros and maintenance or service related factors results in an unreasonable risk of engine compartment fires. Connecting rod failure and a subsequent engine compartment fire can result from running the engine with low oil levels. Tests have shown that rod failure can occur under certain vehicle maneuvers if the oil level is a half quart below the add mark. A knocking or tapping noise may be heard in the engine prior to this rod failure. If owners hear such a noise, they have been instructed to have their Fiero inspected and repaired immediately.
Improper service procedures may also result in coolant or other flammable materials coming in contact with hot exhaust components. Owners are instructed to have their Fiero serviced again if they notice fluid leaks in the engine compartment.
Additionally, in order to assure that vehicles may not have fluid leaks which result from improper installation of components at the time of original assembly, dealers will also inspect and, if necessary, correct those components.
Engine compartment fires can spread to the passenger compartment and cause injury to occupants. General Motors is urging all owners of 1984 Fieros to return their vehicles to Pontiac dealers for the inspection and repairs specified in this bulletin.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1984 Pontiac Fiero model vehicles produced within the following VIN breakpoints:
UP TO
YEAR/MODEL PLANT BEGINNING AND INCLUDING
1984 Fiero Pontiac EP200001 EP336842
Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. These listings contain the complete Vehicle Identification Number, owner name and address data, and are furnished to involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Owner name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with owners involved in this campaign.
These listings may contain owner name and address data obtained from State Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other reason is a violation of law in several states. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.
OWNER NOTIFICATION
Owners will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by Pontiac Division (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin).
DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY
Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.
Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your used vehicle inventory, or it is in your dealership for service in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.