Recall - Unexpected Hood Opening
9217buick08
Models: 1992
Bulletin No.: 92-C-7
File in Group: 2
Number: 1
Date: Oct. '91
SUBJECT:
UNEXPECTED HOOD OPENING
MODELS AFFECTED:
1991 AND CERTAIN 1992 ROADMASTERS
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 facia 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 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 certain 1991-92 Buick Roadmaster model vehicles. The secondary hood latch assemblies in these vehicles can corrode causing a very high latch release effort and possibly preventing the hood from latching properly when it is closed.
If the secondary hood latch is not properly engaged and the primary hood latch was also not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, the hood may contact the windshield, reducing the forward vision area of the driver, and a vehicle crash without prior warning could result.
DEALER ACTION
To prevent this condition from occurring, dealers are to install a new secondary hood latch assembly with improved corrosion resistance.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1991-92 Buick Roadmaster model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:
PLANT THROUGH AND
YEAR PLANT CODE FROM INCLUDING
1991 Willow Run W MW400001 MW407466
1992 Willow Run W NW400002 NW400256
1992 Arlington R NR100003 NR422997
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 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.
OWNER NOTIFICATION
Owners will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by Buick Motor Division (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin).
DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY
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.
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.
PARTS INFORMATION
Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). To ensure these parts will be obtained as soon as possible, they should be ordered from GMSPO on a "C.I.O." order with no special instruction code, but on an advise code (2).
Part Number Description Quantity/Vehicle
10198163 Secondary Hood Latch Guide 1
10196200 Secondary Hood Latch Assembly 1
SERVICE PROCEDURE
1. Raise hood.
2. Remove two (2) secondary hood latch to hood inner panel attaching bolts, rotate latch to disengage from rod and remove latch (See Illustration View A).
3. Install new secondary hood latch to rod, position to hood inner panel and install with two (2) attaching bolts. Torque to 10 N-m (89 lb.in.).
4. Remove three (3) secondary latch guide attaching bolts and remove guide from upper radiator support (see View B).
NOTICE:
It is helpful to disconnect the wiring harness clip from the radiator support to improve access to the rear attaching bolts.
5. Position secondary latch guide to the upper radiator support, install three (3) attaching bolts and torque to 10 N-m (89 lb.in.).
6. Apply coating of chassis grease (GM 1052497 or equivalent) to the primary hood latch pawl and contact areas of hood striker (see Views C and D).
7. Lower hood to closed position several times to ensure proper operation.
8. Install Campaign Identification Label.
CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL
Each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin will require a "Campaign Identification Label." Each label provides a space to include the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the campaign service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.
Each "Campaign Identification Label" is to be located on the radiator core support in an area which will be visible when the vehicle is brought in for periodic servicing by the owner.
Apply "Campaign Identification Label" only on a clean, dry surface.
DISPOSITION OF REPLACED PARTS
Replaced parts must be held for disposition by zone/branch contact personnel. Parts must have a claim tag attached showing the repair order and the VIN of the vehicle from which they were removed.
WARRANTY INFORMATION Sublet
Parts Failed Part Failure Labor Labor Other Dlr.
Oper Count Part No. Allow. Code Op.No. Hours Hours Mtl.Twg.
^ Install New Secondary Hood Latch and Guide
2 10196200 ** 96 V7090 0.3 *0.1 --
* Campaign Administrative Allowance
** The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO Dealer Net price plus 30% of all parts required for the repair.
Dear Buick Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
REASON FOR THIS RECALL
General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1991-92 Buick Roadmaster model vehicles. The secondary hood latch assemblies in these vehicles can corrode causing a very high latch release effort and possibly preventing the hood from latching properly when it is closed.
If the secondary hood latch is not properly engaged and the primary hood latch was also not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, the hood may contact the windshield, reducing the forward vision area of the driver, and a vehicle crash without prior warning could result.
WHAT WE WILL DO
To prevent this condition from occurring, dealers are to install a new secondary hood latch assembly with improved corrosion resistance. This service will be performed for you at no charge.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Please contact your Buick dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date and so the dealer may order the necessary parts for the repair. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer and parts are available. The labor time necessary to perform this service correction is approximately 20 minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.
Your Buick dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service to ensure that your vehicle is corrected as promptly as possible. If, however, you take your vehicle to your dealer on the agreed service date, and they do not remedy this condition on that date or within five (5) days, we recommend you contact the Buick Customer Assistance Center, Flint Home Office, by calling 1-800-521-7300.
After contacting your dealer and the Customer Assistance Center, if you are still not satisfied that we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge and within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington D.C. residents use 366-0123).
The enclosed owner reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction in the shortest possible time. If you have sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage paid reply card and returning it to us.
We are sorry to cause this inconvenience, however, we have taken this action in the interest of your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.