Sliding Door Rear Latch Rivet Staking

The Highway 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 customer 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 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. As you will see in reading the attached copy of the divisional letter that is being sent to customers, the customers are being instructed to contact the appropriate 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.

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1983-96 Chevrolet and GMC G-van classic model vehicles. In some of these vehicles the sliding side-door rear latch was replaced in service with a latch that was improperly riveted. In the event of a vehicle crash, the door may not perform as required and increased injuries could occur.

To correct this condition, dealers are to replace the sliding door rear latch.

Involved are certain:

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through VISS (Vehicle Information Service System) prior to beginning campaign repairs.[Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.] Customer paid repairs that you have identified from your sales records will not be in VISS.

Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" prior to ordering requirements. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. An emergency requirement should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.

Your dealership sales records require inspection to determine the purchasers of the suspect door latches. Inspect your records for door latches that were replaced with stock purchased from GMSPO between July 16, 1997 through December 31, 1998, and were customer paid repairs. After determining the name and address of the purchasers, you should send each owner a copy of the attached owner letter requesting their van be taken to their Chevrolet/GMC dealer for repair per this campaign bulletin. Copies of the vehicle owner's name, address, and VIN for each listed part number, along with your dealership name, address, and dealer code should be mailed to the address listed below.

Pontiac-GMC Division

Brand Quality-Product Campaigns

31 E. Judson St.

Pontiac, MI 48342-2230

If the subject door latch was sold to a repair facility rather than to the vehicle owner, contact that facility to obtain the name and address of the vehicle owner. Send that customer a copy of the attached owner notification letter.

Customers that GM can identify through warranty records will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by General Motors (customer letter will be similar to the letter included with this bulletin - actual divisional letter may vary slightly).

Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Pontiac Dealers

Your dealership sales records require inspection to determine the name and address of purchasers of the suspect door latches on the enclosed listing that are assigned to your dealership (if there is no listing for your dealership, you have no vehicles involved).

Since this recall involves door latches on vehicles that GM cannot identify, it is very important that each involved dealer take the necessary time required to responsibly identify customers who have purchased these door latches.

Pontiac-GMC Division

Brand Quality-Product Campaigns

31 E. Judson St.

Pontiac, MI 48342-2230

Chevrolet and GMC Dealers

Your dealership sales records require inspection to determine the name and address of purchasers of the suspect door latches on the enclosed listing that are assigned to your dealership (if there is no listing for your dealership, you have no vehicles involved).

Since this recall involves door latches on vehicles that GM cannot identify, it is very important that each involved dealer take the necessary time required to responsibly identify customers who have purchased these door latches.

Pontiac-GMC Division

Brand Quality-Product Campaigns

31 E. Judson St.

Pontiac, MI 48342-2230

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to customers, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

Important: TO BE PERFORMED BY CHEVROLET OR GMC DEALERS ONLY

Important: Some vehicles may have a trim panel installed. It will be necessary to remove the trim panel prior to repairs.

Trim Panel (if equipped)

1. Remove the lock knob (1), the door handle screw (2), the handle (3), and the door handle cover (4).
2. Remove the trim panel screws.
3. Remove the trim panel from the door.

Rear Door Latch

1. Remove the upper and lower lock rod assemblies (2, 4) from the rear door latch (1). To remove, pivot the retaining clip (3) from the rod (2, 4) and pull the rod (2, 4) from the latch (1).
2. Remove the rear latch-to-door screws (5).
3. Remove the door latch (1), from the door through the access hole.

Rear Door Latch

1. Install the new latch assembly (1) through the access hole.
2. Line up the latch assembly (1) to the door holes and install the screws (5).

Tighten
Tighten the screws to 8-15 N·m (6-11 lb ft).

3. Install the upper and lower lock rods (2, 4) to the latch assembly (1). Push the lock rods (2, 4) into the latch retaining holes. Pivot the retaining clips (3) onto the lock rod assemblies (2, 4).

Trim Panel (if equipped)

1. Install the trim panel to the door.
2. Install and tighten the trim panel screws.
3. Install the inside door handle cover (4), the inside door handle (3), the door handle screw (2), and the lock knob (1).
4. Install the GM Campaign Identification Label.

For vehicles identified through your record search, fax a copy of the R.O. to 248-874-0117, Attention: Product Campaigns.

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 campaign number and 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 by the customer for periodic servicing. When installing the Campaign Identification Label, be sure to pull the tab to allow adhesion of the clear protective covering. Additional Campaign Identification Labels can be obtained from Dealer Support Materials by calling 1-888-414-6322 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

Apply the "Campaign Identification Label" only on a clean, dry surface.

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below. Refer to the General Motors Corporation Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

Dear General Motors Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1983-96 Chevrolet and GMC G-van classic model vehicles. In some of these vehicles the sliding side-door rear latch was replaced in service with a latch that was improperly riveted. In the event of a vehicle crash, the door may not perform as required and increased injuries could occur.

You are being notified because dealership records indicate that you may have purchased one of the involved latches from a General Motors dealer.

To correct this condition, your Chevrolet or GMC dealer will replace the sliding door rear latch. This service will be performed for you at no charge .

The length of time required to perform this service correction is approximately 25-50 minutes. Additional time may be required to schedule and process your vehicle. If your dealer has a large number of vehicles awaiting service, this additional time may be significant. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule, process and repair your vehicle.

Please contact your Chevrolet or GMC dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Parts are available and instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer. Your Chevrolet or GMC dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide services to correct your vehicle as promptly as possible. Should your dealer be unable to schedule a service date within a reasonable time, you should contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the listed number below:

If, after contacting the appropriate customer assistance center, 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 SW, Washington, DC 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington, DC residents use 202-366-0123).

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

General Motors Corporation

Enclosure

Do Not Mail This Letter To Customers You Have Identified Through Your Sales Records.

Dear Chevrolet/GMC Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Our records indicated that you had a side-door rear latch installed in your van under Product Campaign 95-C-58. The latch that was installed may not perform as intended. We are therefore, notifying you to bring your van into your Chevrolet or GMC dealer to have a new latch installed.

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1983-96 Chevrolet and GMC G-van classic model vehicles. Some of these vehicles exhibit a condition in which the sliding side-door rear latch was improperly riveted. In the event of a vehicle crash, the door may not perform as required and increased injuries could occur.

To correct this condition, your Chevrolet or GMC dealer will replace the sliding door rear latch. This service will be performed for you at no charge .

The length of time required to perform this service correction is approximately 25-50 minutes. Additional time may be required to schedule and process your vehicle. If your dealer has a large number of vehicles awaiting service, this additional time may be significant. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule, process and repair your vehicle.

Please contact your Chevrolet or GMC dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Parts are available and instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer. Your Chevrolet or GMC dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide services to correct your vehicle as promptly as possible. Should your dealer be unable to schedule a service date within a reasonable time, you should contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the listed number below:

If, after contacting the appropriate Customer Assistance Center, 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 SW, Washington, DC 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington, DC residents use 202-366-0123).

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

General Motors Corporation

Enclosure