Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Recall - Air Bag ECM Wiring Sub-Harness Installation: Overview

SAFETY

Bulletin No.: 13030

Date: May 02, 2013

Subject: 13030 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Electronic Control Module (ECM)

Models:
2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe

Condition

Toyota has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2003 and 2004 model year Pontiac Vibe vehicles. Pontiac Vibe was manufactured by New United Motor Manufacturing (NUMMI), a joint venture between Toyota and GM.

The Electronic Control Module (ECM) for the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) in these vehicles could have been manufactured with integrated circuits (ICs) that are susceptible to short circuiting when exposed to certain electrical noise from various vehicle electrical components. If internal short circuiting occurs, the front airbag(s) and/or seat belt pretensioners could inadvertently deploy. An airbag that deploys inadvertently can, under some circumstances, increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a crash.

Correction

Dealers are to install a sub-wire harness (filter) to minimize electrical noise from the other vehicle electrical components.

Vehicles Involved

All involved vehicles are identified by Vehicle Identification Number on the Investigate Vehicle History screen in GM Global Warranty Management system. Dealership service personnel should always check this site to confirm vehicle involvement prior to beginning any required inspections and/or repairs. It is important to routinely use this tool to 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, customer name, and address information 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.

The listing may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any purpose other than follow-up necessary to complete this recall is a violation of law in several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this report to the follow-up necessary to complete this recall.

Parts Information

Parts required to complete this recall are to be obtained from General Motors Customer Care and Aftersales (GMCC&A). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" before ordering parts. Part Numbers 19205561 & 19205562 are currently on a TAC restriction and will need to be processed through TAC with a TAC case prior to release. Part Number 19205557 can be obtained through normal orders placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. In an emergency situation, part should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.





* It is estimated that less than 0.5% of the involved population will require replacement of the module.

Customer Reimbursement - For US

Customer requests for reimbursement of previously paid repairs for the recall condition are to be submitted to the dealer by May 31, 2014, unless otherwise specified by state law. If this is not convenient for the customer, they may mail the completed Customer Reimbursement Request Form and all required documents to the GM Customer Assistance Center.

All reasonable and customary costs to correct the condition described in this bulletin should be considered for reimbursement. Any questions or concerns should be reviewed with your GM representative prior to processing the request.

When a customer requests reimbursement, they must provide the following:

- A completed Customer Reimbursement Request Form. This form is mailed to the customer or can be obtained through GM GlobalConnect.

- The name and address of the person who paid for the repair.

- Paid receipt confirming the amount of the repair expense, a description of the repair, and the person or entity performing the repair.

Important
GM requires dealers to approve or deny a reimbursement request within 30 days of receipt. If a reimbursement request is approved, the dealer should immediately issue a check to the customer and submit an appropriate warranty transaction for the incurred expense. If a reimbursement request is denied, the dealer MUST provide the customer with a clear and concise explanation, in writing, as to why the request was denied. The bottom portion of the Customer Reimbursement Request Form may be used for this purpose. If the denial was due to missing documents, the customer can resubmit the request when the missing documents are obtained, as long as it is still within the allowed reimbursement period.

Warranty transactions for customer reimbursement of previously paid repairs are to be submitted as required by GM Global Warranty Management. Additional information can also be found in Warranty Administration Bulletin 11-00-89-004.

Customer Reimbursement - For Canada

Customer requests for reimbursement of previously paid repairs to correct the condition described in this bulletin are to be submitted to the dealer prior to or by May 31, 2014.

When a customer requests reimbursement, they must provide the following:

- Proof of ownership at time of repair.

- Original paid receipt confirming the amount of unreimbursed repair expense(s) (including Service Contract deductibles), a description of the repair, and the person or entity performing the repair.

All reasonable and customary costs to correct the condition described in this bulletin should be considered for reimbursement. Any questions or concerns should be reviewed with your GM representative prior to processing the request.

Warranty Transaction Information

Submit a transaction using the table below. All transactions should be submitted as a ZFAT transaction type, unless noted otherwise.





* Customer reimbursement will not close this recall. The service procedure must also be performed on the vehicle.

** The amount identified in "Net Item" should represent the dollar amount reimbursed to the customer.

Customer Notification - For US and Canada

General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

Customer Notification - For Export

Letters will be sent to known owners of record located within areas covered by the US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. For owners outside these areas, dealers should notify customers using the attached sample letter.

Dealer Recall Responsibility - For US and Export (US States, Territories, and Possessions)

It is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to deliver a new motor vehicle or any new or used item of motor vehicle equipment (including a tire) covered by this notification under a sale or lease until the defect or noncompliance is remedied.

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. 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.

Dealer Recall Responsibility - All

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' 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, and for which there is no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, 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. Recall follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the customer may not as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, you must take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.





Disclaimer