Recall - Accelerator Pedal Sticking: Overview
SAFETYBulletin No.: 10018C
Date: August 04, 2010
Subject: 10018C - Accelerator Pedal Sticking
Models:
2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe
Supercede:
The Service Procedure, Step 6.3, has been revised to remove the requirement to call the Technical Assistance Center if the clearance between the stopper and housing is greater than 2.70 mm. If the clearance is greater than 2.70mm, dealers are to replace the pedal. The part number for the pedal has been added to the Parts Information section and a new labor code has been added. Step 12 in the Service Procedure has also been revised to remove programming instructions that are no longer applicable. Please discard all copies of bulletin 10018B, issued February 2010.
Vehicles involved in this recall were placed on stop delivery on January 27, 2010. Once the service procedure contained in this bulletin has been performed, AND THE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT HAS BEEN REMOVED AND PLACED IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE, the vehicle can be sold/delivered to the customer.
Condition
Toyota has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in all 2009 and 2010 model year Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The Pontiac Vibe was manufactured by New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI), a joint venture between Toyota and GM.
In these vehicles, there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. Over time, the internal mechanisms in the accelerator pedal may become worn. As a result of this wear, combined with certain operating and environmental conditions, friction in the mechanism may increase and intermittently result in the accelerator pedal being hard to depress and/or slow to return or, in the worst case, stick in a partially open position, increasing the risk of a crash, serious injury, or death.
Correction
Dealers are to install a precision-cut steel reinforcement bar into the accelerator pedal assembly, which will increase the clearance between the internal mechanisms in the accelerator pedal assembly. This increased clearance will reduce the friction caused by wear and environmental conditions, and allow the pedal to operate smoothly for the life of the vehicle.
Vehicles Involved
Involved are all 2009 and 2010 model year Pontiac Vibe vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints:
Important
Dealers are to confirm vehicle eligibility prior to beginning repairs by using GMVIS (dealers using WINS) or the Investigate Vehicle History link (dealers using GWM). Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.
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 US and Canadian 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
Important
An initial supply of reinforcement bars required to complete this recall was pre-shipped to involved dealers of record in the U.S. and in Canada. Due to limited allocation of inventory authorized by Toyota, GM dealers received pre-shipments that consist of a good variety of pieces and sizes (part numbers) sufficient to begin repairing vehicles immediately. GMSPO also sent multiple pre-shipments to involved dealers of record during the weeks of February 8 and February 15, 2010, as more inventory became available. These pre-shipments were delivered to U.S. and Canadian dealers via FEDERAL EXPRESS OVN from the SPO Lansing PDC, as 'freight pre-paid'.
If additional parts are still required, dealers should order from General Motors Customer Care & Aftersales (GMCC&A). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" before ordering parts. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order, or in an emergency situation, parts should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order. These seven part numbers will not be eligible for RIM Management, however dealer inventory will be monitored to encourage dealers to share inventory to get vehicles repaired.
Important
INSTALL THE CORRECT REINFORCEMENT BAR ONLY - DO NOT SUBSTITUTE REINFORCEMENT BARS. REFER TO STEP 6 IN THE SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR PROPER MEASURING TO DETERMINE APPLICABLE REINFORCEMENT SIZE.
Courtesy Transportation
The General Motors Courtesy Transportation program is intended to minimize customer inconvenience when a vehicle requires a repair that is covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranties. The availability of courtesy transportation to customers whose vehicles are within the warranty coverage period and involved in a product program is very important in maintaining customer satisfaction. Dealers are to ensure that these customers understand that shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation is available and will be provided at no charge. Dealers should refer to the General Motors Service Policies and Procedures Manual for Courtesy Transportation guidelines.
Claim Information
1. Submit a claim using the table below.
2. Courtesy Transportation - submit as Net Item under the repair labor code.
* For vehicles in dealer inventory only - This is NOT for customer vehicles. The amount identified in "Misc Net Item" should represent the product of the vehicle's average daily interest rate (see table below) multiplied by the actual number of days the vehicle was in dealer inventory and not available for sale. This reimbursement is limited to the number of days from the date of the stop delivery message (January 27, 2010) to the date the repair is completed and the vehicle is ready for sale (not to exceed 16 days):
Customer Notification
General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).
Dealer Recall Responsibility - For US (US States, Territories, and Possessions)
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