Recall - Loss of Headlights: Overview
Number 86-C-03 Date 05/86Subject: PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 86-C-03 PUSH-PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH REPLACEMENT POTENTIAL LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS
MODELS AFFECTED: 1986 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, GRAND PRIX, PARISIENNE, SUNBIRD, T1000 AND 6000
TO: ALL PONTIAC DEALERS
The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, provides that each vehicle which is subject to a product campaign of this type, must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the owner has tendered it for repair. A failure to adequately 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 owner may be entitled to an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle a 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 owner letter, the owners are being instructed to contact the nearest Pontiac Zone Office if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five days of the agreed service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, the owners are instructed how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
CONDITION INVOLVED
General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1986 Pontiac Bonneville, Grand Prix, Parisienne, Sunbird, T1000 and 6000 models. The push-pull headlight switch might have been manufactured with electrical contacts which could potentially result in an intermittent headlight circuit. An intermittent circuit could cause the headlights to suddenly go out. Sudden loss of the headlights under severe weather or nighttime driving conditions could reduce driver visibility which might result in a vehicle crash without prior warning.
DEALER ACTION
To prevent this condition dealers are required to inspect, and if necessary, replace push-pull headlight switches on suspect vehicles per the SERVICE PROCEDURE section of this bulletin.