Recall - Fuel Tank Leak: Overview

9224pontiac01

Number 89-C-03


Date January 1989


Subject:
PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 89-C-03 FUEL TANK


MODELS AFFECTED
1989 PONTIAC SUNBIRDS WITH
2.OL ENGINES (VIN CODES K AND M)


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 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 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 which 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, owners 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 may exist in some 1989 Sunbird model vehicles equipped with 2.OL engines. Some of the involved vehicles may have been built with the potential for a fuel tank leak. Small creases on,the underside of the tank may fatigue and crack during pressure cycling of the tank which occurs during normal operation of the vehicle. Over a period of time, a crack may form at the location of the crease and cause the fuel tank to leak. If this leak is undetected and there is an external source of ignition present, this condition could ultimately result in a fire.


DEALER ACTION

To prevent this condition from occurring, dealers are to inspect all involved vehicles and replace fuel tanks as required per the instructions in the SERVICE PROCEDURE section of this bulletin.


VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are certain 1989 Sunbird model vehicles equipped with 2.OL engines (VIN codes K and M) produced within the following VIN breakpoints:

Up To
Year Plant Beginning And Including

1989 Lordstown K7526494 K7528727


Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. Computer listings contain the complete Vehicle Identification Number, owner name and address data, and are furnished to the involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Owner name ard address data furnished will enable dealers to follow up with owners involved in this campaign.

These listings may contain owner names and addresses obtained from State Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose 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.