Recall - Electric Outside Rearview Mirror Short Circuit: Overview
File In Section: Product RecallsBulletin No.: 03006
Date: April, 2003
PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL
SUBJECT:
03006 - ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH SHORT CIRCUIT
MODELS:
1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER, SUBURBAN
1998 CHEVROLET C/K EXT. CAB PICKUP, ASTRO VAN, SUBURBAN
1997 GMC JIMMY, SUBURBAN
1998 GMC SIERRA EXT. CAB PICKUP, SAFARI VAN, SUBURBAN
EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRRORS
CONDITION
General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1997 Chevrolet Blazer and Suburban; GMC Jimmy and Suburban; 1998 Chevrolet C/K Extended Cab Pickup, Astro Van, and Suburban; and GMC Sierra Extended Cab Pickup, Safari Van, and Suburban vehicles equipped with electric outside rearview mirrors. Under certain conditions, some of these vehicles may develop a short circuit in the electric outside rearview mirror switch. If this were to happen, it could result in an inoperative switch, heat damage to the driver's door, and/or ignition of components in the driver's door and a subsequent vehicle fire without prior warning.
CORRECTION
Dealers are to install a fused jumper harness to the electric outside rearview mirror switch.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are certain 1997 Chevrolet Blazer and Suburban; GMC Jimmy and Suburban; 1998 Chevrolet C/K Extended Cab Pickup, Astro Van, and Suburban; and GMC Sierra Extended Cab Pickup, Safari Van, and Suburban equipped with electric outside rearview mirrors and built within these VIN breakpoints shown.
Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number. Computer listings containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data have been prepared, and are being furnished to involved dealers with the recall bulletin. The customer name and address data will enable dealers to follow up with customers involved in this recall. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the recall bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.
These dealer listings may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose is a violation of law in several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this recall.
PARTS INFORMATION
Parts Pre-Ship Information - For US and Canada
Important:
An initial supply of parts required to complete this program will be pre-shipped to involved dealers of record. This pre-shipment is scheduled to begin the week of April 14, 2003. Pre-shipped parts will be charged to dealer's open parts account.
Additional parts, if required, 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.
RECALL IDENTIFICATION LABEL - For US and IPC
Place a Recall Identification Label on each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Recall Bulletin. Each label provides a space to include the recall number and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the recall service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ballpoint pen.
Put the Recall Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. When installing the Recall Identification Label, be sure to pull the tab to allow adhesion of the clear protective covering.
Additional Recall Identification Labels for IPC dealers can be obtained from your Regional Marketing Office.
RECALL IDENTIFICATION LABEL - For CANADA
Place a Recall Identification Label on each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Recall Bulletin. Each label provides a space to include the recall number and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the recall service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ballpoint pen.
Put the Recall Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle.
CUSTOMER REIMBURSEMENT - For US
All customer requests for reimbursement for previous repairs for the recall condition will be handled by the Customer Assistance Center, not by dealers. Customers seeking reimbursement must still have this recall performed on their vehicle. The Customer Assistance Center will instruct the customer to contact their dealer to schedule a service appointment.
A General Motors Product Recall Customer Reimbursement Procedure Form is included with the customer letter.
IMPORTANT:
Refer to the GM Service Policies and Procedures Manual, section 6.1.12, for specific procedures regarding customer reimbursement and the form.
CUSTOMER REIMBURSEMENT - For Canada
Customers seeking reimbursement must still have this recall performed on their vehicle.
Customer requests for reimbursement of previously paid repairs to correct a short circuit in the electric outside rearview mirror switch are to be submitted by April 30, 2004.
All 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 unreimbursed repair expense(s), 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.
CLAIM INFORMATION
Submit a Product Recall Claim with the information indicated.
CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION - For US and CANADA
Customers will be notified of this recall on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).
CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION - For IPC
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 sample letter.
DEALER RECALL RESPONSIBILITY - For US and IPC (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 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 their bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such customers, a copy of the customer letter accompanying this bulletin. 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