Firebird V8-305 5.0L VIN E TBI (1989)
Technical Service Bulletin # 90C03A
Date: 910201
Recall - Seat Belt Buckles Do Not Latch or Release
Number
90-C-03A
Date
2/91
Subject:
PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 90-C-03A SEAT BELT BUCKLES
MODELS AFFECTED
1984-90 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
TO:
ALL PONTIAC DEALERS
"THIS BULLETIN CANCELS CAMPAIGN BULLETIN 90-C-03 ISSUED JUNE, 1990. THE DEFECT INVOLVED, PARTS INFORMATION,
SERVICE PROCEDURE, AND CLAIM INFORMATION SECTIONS HAVE BEEN REVISED. ADDITIONALLY, A SPECIAL TOOLS SECTION
HAS BEEN ADDED. ALL COPIES OF THE ORIGINAL BULLETIN SHOULD BE DESTROYED. "
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 adequately 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 Pontiac 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.
Defect Involved
General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1984-90 Pontiac Firebird model vehicles. Some seat
belt buckle assemblies in affected vehicles may not latch, or may not release, due to fracture of the red push button which can occur during seat belt
connection or disconnection. These buckle malfunctions would prevent a person from using his seat belt system, and the risk of injury to an unbelted
person in an accident would be increased.
To correct this condition, all involved vehicles will have the pushbutton assemblies replaced and have a protector shield added (except for certain 1989
and all 1990 vehicles which have revised lower cover ramps and as a result do not need protectors). Also, any buckle assemblies which are found not to
function correctly, or which have fractured pushbuttons, will be replaced.
Vehicles Involved
Involved are 1984-90 Pontiac Firebird model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:
Up To And
Year
Plant
Beginning
Including
1984
Van Nuys
EL200001
EL277542
1984
Norwood
EN200001
EN250762
1985
Van Nuys
FL200001
FL654874
1985
Norwood
FN200001
FN241006
1986
Van Nuys
GL200001
GL259110
1986
Norwood
GN200001
GN251373
1987
Van Nuys
HL200001
HL235610
1987
Norwood
HN200001
HN253013
1988
Van Nuys
JL200001
JL262467
1989
Van Nuys
KL200001
KL264406
1990
Van Nuys
LL200001
LL220555
Involved vehicles are identified on your monthly Campaign Listing by campaign number 90-C-03.