Product Safety - Inadvertent Airbag Deployment

Due to the availability of parts, this campaign is being administered in phases. The first phase was released in December 2000, the second phase was released in February 2001, the third phase and fourth in April 2001. This is the the final phase. (This statement is the only new information contained in this campaign. You will not be receiving a new printed copy of this campaign.)

Important: OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR THIS CAMPAIGN WILL OCCUR IN SEVERAL PHASES, BEGINNING WITH EARLIEST BUILT VEHICLES. THE OWNERS NOTIFIED IN EACH PHASE WILL BE BASED ON PARTS AVAILABILITY.

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1995 Buick Regal and 1995-96 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme model vehicles. Some of these vehicles exhibit inadvertent or non-crash driver front airbag deployment. This deployment could occur during vehicle start-up, while the vehicle is idling, or while in operation. A person positioned for driving and using the safety belt may receive minor injuries, such as abrasions, from contact with the bag, but a person too close to the airbag could receive greater injuries.

Dealers are to replace the driver side airbag module.

Involved are certain 1995 Buick Regal and 1995-96 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme model vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints:

Important: This campaign includes any vehicles in which the driver's airbag module was replaced before December 12, 2000, either because of deployment or as a temporary measure. Only the modules listed in this bulletin and available now can be used to complete this recall campaign.

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS (GM Vehicle Inquiry System) or GM Access Screen (Canada only) or DCS Screen 445 (IPC Only) before beginning campaign repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.]

The involved vehicles listing is not included with this campaign bulletin mailing, but will be provided at a later date.

Parts required to complete this campaign 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.

Important: Due to limited initial parts availability and phased owner mailing, all parts will be placed on order control. Dealer orders will be released only after verification of an involved vehicle identification number (VIN). Parts should only be ordered after notified owners have contacted their dealer and a service date has been scheduled. Upon order, dealers will be directed to contact GMSPO via a special telephone number for VIN verification. Without VIN verification, all backorders will be canceled.

Important: For additional information, refer to the Steering Wheel/Column section of the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) section of the appropriate Service Manual.

1. Disable the SIR.

1.1.	Disconnect the negative battery cable.

1.2.	Remove the SIR fuse.

1.3.	Disconnect the passenger side SIR module connector.

1.4.	Disconnect the driver's side SIR module connector at the base of the steering column.

2. Remove the screws that attach the driver's airbag module to the steering wheel.

Important: Vehicles equipped with RPO UK3 (steering wheel mounted switch controls) have an additional electrical connection to the steering wheel/column that must be disconnected when removing the airbag module from the steering wheel.

3. Disconnect the electrical connectors for the horn, the airbag module, and the switch controls (if equipped).

Important: Steps 4 and 5 apply only to vehicles with steering wheel mounted switches (RPO UK3). On vehicles without RPO UK3, proceed to Step 6.

4. On models equipped with steering wheel mounted radio controls, remove the screws that attach the radio switches to the airbag module and release the wiring harness and connector from the retainers.
5. Install the switches on the new driver side airbag module. Route the wiring harness and install the screws.

Tighten
Tighten the screws to 6 N·m (53 lb in).

6. Connect the electrical connectors for the horn, the airbag module, and the switch controls (if equipped).
7. Install the airbag module on the steering wheel and install the screws.

Tighten
Tighten the screws to 3 N·m (25 lb in).

8. Enable the SIR system.

8.1.	Connect the driver side SIR module connector at the base of the steering column.

8.2.	Connect the passenger side SIR module connector.

8.3.	Install the SIR fuse.

8.4.	Connect the negative battery cable.

8.5.	Turn the ignition switch to the ON position and verify that the AIRBAG warning lamp flashes 7 times and goes out.

9. Install the GM Campaign Identification Label.

FOR US AND IPC

Place a Campaign Identification Label on each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin. 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.

Put the Campaign 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 Campaign Identification Label, be sure to pull the tab to allow the adhesion of the clear protective covering. Additional Campaign Identification Labels for US dealers can be obtained from Dealer Support Material by calling 1-888-549-6152 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

Additional Campaign Identification Labels for IPC dealers can be obtained from your Regional Marketing Office.

FOR CANADA

Place a Campaign Identification Label on each vehicle corrected in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin. 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.

Put the Campaign 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. Additional Campaign Identification Labels for Canadian dealers can be obtained from DGN by calling 1-800-668-5539 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number GMP 91 when ordering.

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:

Refer to the General Motors WINS Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Campaign Claim Submission.

FOR US AND CANADA

Customers will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin). Owner notification for this campaign will occur in several phases, beginning with earliest built vehicles. The owners notified in each phase will be based on parts availability.

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 attached suggested dealer letter.

FOR US AND IPC (US States, Territories, and Possessions)

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act 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 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 campaign notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the campaign is not completed within a reasonable time.

FOR ALL

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this campaign MUST be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this campaign bulletin BEFORE customers take possession of these vehicles.

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.

Customers who have recently purchased vehicles sold from your vehicle 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 this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such customers a copy of the customer letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign 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 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.

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1995 Buick Regal and 1995-96 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme model vehicles. Some of these vehicles exhibit inadvertent or non-crash driver front airbag deployment. This deployment could occur during vehicle start-up, while the vehicle is idling, or while in operation. A person positioned for driving and using the safety belt may receive minor injuries, such as abrasions, from contact with the bag, but a person too close to the airbag could receive greater injuries.

We will replace the driver side airbag module. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

Please contact us as soon as possible to arrange a service date.

We sincerely regret any inconvenience this causes you; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products.

GMODC

General Motors Corporation

00058

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 1995 Buick Regal and 1995-96 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme model vehicles. Some of these vehicles exhibit inadvertent or non-crash driver front airbag deployment. This deployment could occur during vehicle start-up, while the vehicle is idling, or while in operation. A person positioned for driving and using the safety belt may receive minor injuries, such as abrasions, from contact with the bag, but a person too close to the airbag could receive greater injuries.

Your dealer will replace the driver side airbag module This service will be performed for you at no charge .

The length of time required to perform this service correction is approximately 25 minutes. Additional time may be required to schedule and process your vehicle. If you 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 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 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 number listed 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 1-888-327-4236.

The attached customer 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 no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by completing the attached and mailing it in the postage paid envelope.

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