Campaign Description
90buick15
Model Year 1990
Bulletin No. 90-C-9
File in Group 9
Number 5
Date Dec. '90
Refer to TSB # 90-C-9A for additional information.
SUBJECT: SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (SIR) INFLATOR MODULE
MODELS AFFECTED: 1990 RIVIERA AND REATTA
This Product Campaign was announced to initial affected dealers by DCS 91-04, dated October 29, 1990. Subsequently, two additional DCS's have been issued with additional vehicles involved: DCS 91-04A and DCS 91-04B were sent to affected dealers. This bulletin contains additional information and vehicles involved.
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 repair within sixty (60) 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 that is being sent to owners, the owners are being instructed to contact the Buick Customer Assistance Center if their dealer does not remedy the condition within five (5) days of the mutually agreed upon service date. If the condition is not remedied within a reasonable time, they are instructed on how to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
CONDITION
General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1990 Buick Riviera and Reatta model vehicles. In the event of an accident requiring deployment of the driver's side Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR), the SIR Inflator Module, located in the steering wheel assembly, could separate. If separation occurs, the air bag will not inflate as intended, and the driver will not be properly restrained. In addition, separation of the SIR Inflator Module may result in hot combustion gases escaping into the occupant compartment, presenting the possibility that vehicle occupants could receive burn injuries.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1990 Buick Riviera and Reatta model vehicles within the following VIN breakpoints listed below:
Through and
Assembly Plant From Included
Reatta Craft Centre LB903608 LB904594
Hamtramck LU400280 LU421713
Note: Approximately 302 vehicles within these ranges are affected.
OWNER NOTIFICATION
Owners will be notified of this campaign on their vehicle by Buick Motor Division (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin). The zone/branch is being requested to contact the owners to immediately advise them of this campaign and arrange this service.
CHANGE OF OWNER NOTIFICATION
Dealers are to use the Dealer Communication System (DCS) to provide Buick Motor Division with subsequent Buick owner information. By reporting a change of owner name or address of a vehicle in campaign status over the DCS, the need to send a CVAR form for that vehicle is eliminated. Terminal input instructions are covered in the DCS Manual under Section 9, Page 9-JO1A and B.
DEALER ACTION
To correct this condition, dealers are to replace the SIR Inflator Module per the Vehicles Involved and Service Procedure. Dealer should contact zone/branch as soon as a replacement SIR Inflator Module is received. Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership from this time forward.
DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY
Dealers are to service all vehicles to this campaign at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.
Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used vehicle inventory, or it is in your dealership for service in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.
Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required correction according to instructions contained in this bulletin.
DEALER MATERIAL
If your dealership has vehicles involved in this campaign, you will receive the following items:
^ List of all vehicles involved in this campaign shipped to your dealership
^ One (1) campaign identification label for each vehicle 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 involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Owner name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with owners involved in this campaign.
These vehicles 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.