Recall - Tail/Brake Lamps Inoperative: Overview
Product Safety - Brake and/or Tail Lamps Inoperative# 05052 - (Nov 21, 2005)
Models:
2000-2002 SATURN LS
2000-2004 SATURN LW
Condition
General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2000-2002 Saturn LS and 2000-2004 Saturn LW vehicles. The tail lamp housing can become distorted if the brake lamps remain on for an extended period of time. This distortion could cause the brake and/or tail lamps to become inoperative. Reduced visibility or lack of braking indication to following drivers could contribute to a vehicle crash.
Correction
Retailers are to install two new tail lamp bracket housing assemblies and bulbs.
Vehicles Involved
Involved are certain 2000-2002 Saturn LS and 2000-2004 Saturn LW vehicles built within the VIN breakpoints shown.
Important:
Canadian Saturn retailers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) prior to beginning recall repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.]
Important:
Saturn US retailers must verify recall involvement by running a National Vehicle History (NVH) prior to performing repairs. Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved. Recall claims will only be paid on involved vehicles.
For Canadian Saturn retailers with involved vehicles, a Campaign Initiation Detail Report (CIDR) containing the complete vehicle identification number, customer name and address data has been prepared and will be loaded to the GMinfoNet Recall Reports. Retailers will not have a report available if they have no involved vehicles currently assigned.
The Campaign Initiation Detail Report 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 - Saturn Canada
For Saturn Canada: Parts required to complete this recall are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" before ordering parts. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. In an emergency situation, parts should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.
For Saturn US: A pre-shipment of the required parts to perform this recall has been sent to involved Saturn US retailers from Saturn Service Parts Operations (SSPO).
Customer Reimbursement - For Saturn Canada
Customer requests for reimbursement of previously paid repairs to correct the recall condition are to be submitted by November 30, 2006, reasonable customer paid receipts should be considered for reimbursement. The amount to be reimbursed will be limited to the amount the repair would have cost if completed by an authorized General Motors dealer.
When a customer requests reimbursement, they must provide the following:
^ Proof of ownership at time of repair.
^ Original paid receipt confirming the amount of repair expense(s) that were not reimbursed, a description of the repair, and the person or entity performing the repair.
Claims for customer reimbursement on previously paid repairs are to be submitted as required by WINS.
Important:
Refer to the GM Service Policies and Procedures Manual, section 1.6.2, for specific procedures regarding customer reimbursement verification.
Customer Reimbursement - For Saturn U.S.
All customer requests for reimbursement for previous repairs for the recall condition are handled by submitting a recall reimbursement claim form directly to Saturn retailers for processing; however, if customers choose, they may file a claim through the Saturn Customer Assistance Center.
Claim Information - Saturn Canada
Submit a Product Recall claim with the information shown.
Claim Information - Saturn U.S.
1. To receive credit, submit a claim with the information shown.
2. Check your Saturn SERVICELINE.XL Claim Memorandum daily. Remember to code the claim as a WC sale type, and VC case type. Contact your field representative if you need assistance.
3. To receive credit for loaner/rental car cost, submit a claim with the information shown.
Customer Reimbursement Claims - Special Attention Required
Customer reimbursement claims must have the date of the (service repair) prior replacement entered into the "repair date" field of the CSO in the "Labor Detail/Comments" screen.
Customer reimbursement claims must have the mileage of the prior repair of the (service repair) entered on the "Service Order Hub" screen in the "miles in" field.
Customer reimbursement claims must have entered into the "technician comments" field the CSO # (if repair was completed at a Saturn Retail Facility) date, milage, customer name, and any deductibles and taxes paid by the customer.
Customer reimbursement claims must be submitted on a different CSO than the Recall repair. This is because the repair date and mileage differ between the two repairs.
Customer Notification
Saturn will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter shown in this bulletin).
Retailer Recall Responsibility - For Saturn 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.
Retailer Recall Responsibility - All
All unsold new vehicles in retailers' 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.
Retailers 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 retailer listing, are to be contacted by the retailer. 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 shown 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.
Disclaimer