CAMPAIGN: INCORRECT SEAT BELTS

SUBJECT: PRODUCT SAFETY - INCORRECT SEAT BELTS

MODELS AFFECTED: CERTAIN 1997 LESABRES AND 1996 PARK AVENUE/ ULTRAS

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 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 solutions, 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 letter that is being sent to customers, the customers are being instructed to contact the Buick Customer Relations 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 certain 1997 LeSabre and 1996 Park Avenue/Ultra model vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies". These vehicles may have been assembled with one or more incorrect seat belt and/or seat belt buckle ends. If an incorrect part is used, the belt may not latch properly increasing the risk of injury to the occupant should a vehicle crash occur.

To correct this condition and in order to comply with FMVSS 209, customers/dealers will inspect all front and rear seat belt latch ends and seat belt buckle ends for correct parts. Dealers will replace any incorrect parts.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are certain 1997 Buick LeSabre and 1996 Park Avenue Ultras built within the following VIN breakpoints:

YEAR MODEL PLANT PLANT FROM THROUGH CODE ---- ---- ----- ------ ---- -------

1997 LeSabre Buick City H VH400035 VH411913 1996 Park Buick City H TH618832 TH624431 Avenue/Ultra

IMPORTANT: 1996 PARK AVENUE/ULTRA MODEL VEHICLES WITH GREEN INTERIOR COLOR ARE NOT INVOLVED.

NOTICE: ONLY CERTAIN VEHICLES WITHIN THESE VIN RANGES ARE AFFECTED. PLEASE CHECK YOUR DEALER CAMPAIGN LISTING OR THE VEHICLE INFORMATION SERVICE SYSTEM (VISS) FOR CAMPAIGN INVOLVEMENT OF SUSPECT VEHICLES.

Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. Computer listings contain the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data, and are furnished to involved dealers with the campaign bulletin. Customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this campaign.

These listings may contain customer 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.

PARTS INFORMATION

IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT LESS THAN 1% OF THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES OR SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT FOR THIS CONDITION. DUE TO THE SMALL NUMBER OF VEHICLES REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, DEALERS ARE ENCOURAGED NOT TO ORDER CAMPAIGN PARTS FOR USE AS SHELF STOCK. PARTS SHOULD ONLY BE ORDERED WHEN INSPECTION DETERMINES THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE A PART.

Parts required to complete this campaign are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your involved vehicle 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).

Part numbers for 1996 Park Avenue/Ultras are indicated below. Install only on an as regular basis:

MEDIUM ADRIATIC MEDIUM RUBY COLOR: GRAY BLUE NEUTRAL II RED LOCATION: --------- ------ -------- ---------- ----- LEFT FRT. BELT ASSEMBLY 12532010 12532011 12532013 12532014 LEFT FRT. BUCKLE ASSY. 12514330 12514331 12529004 12514333 FRT CENTER BELT ASSY. 12532099 12532100 12532101 12533325 FRT CENTER BUCKLE ASSY. 12532092 12532093 12532094 12533326 RIGHT FRT. BELT ASSEMBLY 12532018 12532019 12532021 12532022 RIGHT FRT. BUCKLE ASSY. 12514330 12514331 12529004 12514333 LEFT REAR BELT ASSEMBLY 12532026 12532027 12532029 12532028 REAR CENTER BELT & BUCKLE & SIDE BUCKLES ASSY. 12532035 12532038 12532037 12532034 RIGHT REAR BELT ASSEMBLY 12532026 12532027 12532029 12532028

Part numbers for 1997 LeSabres are indicated below: Install only on an as required basis:

MEDIUM ADRIATIC MEDIUM RUBY COLOR: GRAY BLUE NEUTRAL II RED LOCATION: ---------- ----- -------- --------- ------

LEFT FRT. BELT ASSEMBLY 12529395 12529397 12529399 12529403 LEFT FRT. BUCKLE ASSY. 12531064 12531065 12531066 12531068 FRT CENTER BELT ASSY. 12531091 12531092 12531093 12531095 FRT CENTER BUCKLE ASSY. 12531082 12531083 12531084 12531086 RIGHT FRT. BELT ASSEMBLY 12529394 12529396 12529398 12529402 RIGHT FRT. BUCKLE ASSY. 12531073 12531074 12531075 12531077 LEFT REAR BELT ASSEMBLY 12529421 12529422 12529423 12529425 REAR CENTER BELT & BUCKLE &SIDE BUCKLES ASSY. 12529412 12529413 12529414 12529416 RIGHT REAR BELT ASSEMBLY 12529421 12529422 12529423 12529425

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION:

Customers will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by Buick Motor Division (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

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 of vehicles recently sold from your vehicle inventory with no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in 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 steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this campaign may not comply with the standard identified above. Under section 108 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, it is illegal for a dealer to sell a new motor vehicle which the dealer knows does not comply with an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. As a consequence, if you sell any of these motor vehicles without first performing the campaign correction, your dealership may be subject to a civil penalty up to $1,000 for each such sale.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

INSPECTION

IMPORTANT: To determine if one or more incorrect seat belts or incorrect seat belt buckle has been installed, all belt latch ends and buckle ends in the front and rear must be inspected. The 1997 LeSabre uses an interior color plastic end release style buckle with a red release button. The 1996 Park Ave/Ultra uses a metal side release buckle. Also, the mating belt end styles are different.

1. Inspect seat belt latch ends and buckle ends for correctness per illustration. Inspect all six locations.

1a. If all parts are correct, proceed to step 3.

lb. If any parts are incorrect, proceed to step 2.

REPLACEMENT

2. Replace any incorrect parts per appropriate Service Manual Section 10-1 1.

3. 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 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 for periodic servicing by the customer. When using the new campaign identification label, be sure to install the clear protective covering. Additional "Campaign Identification Labels" can be obtained from VISPAC Incorporated by calling 1-800-269-5100 (Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

Apply "Campaign Identification Label" on a clean dry surface.

CLAIM INFORMATION

PART FAILED PARTS LABOR LABOR OPERATION COUNT PART NO. ALLOW CC-FC OP. HRS.* ---------- ---- -------- ----- ----- ------ ------

Inspect only, no -- -- -- MA-96 V9641 0.2 incorrect parts

Inspect and 1 ** *** MA-96 V9642 0.4 replace one front side belt

Inspect and 2 ** *** MA-96 V9643 0.6 replace both front side belts

Inspect and 4 ** *** MA-96 V9644 1.0 replace both front side buckles and center belt and buckle

Inspect and 1 ** *** MA-96 V9645 0.8 replace one rear side belt

Inspect and 2 ** *** MA-96 V9646 1.0 replace both rear side belts

Inspect and 1 ** *** MA-96 V9647 0.3 replace both rear side buckles and center belt and buckle

Any combination max 9 ** *** MA-96 V9648 **** of above replacement operations

* ADD: For Campaign Administrative Allowance, add 0.1 hours to the "Labor Hours".

** Use one of the actual part numbers replaced.

*** The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO dealer net price plus 40% of all parts required for the repair.

**** Add up the Labor Hours for combination of above operations actually performed - maximum of 2.9 hours.

Courtesy transportation supplied to customers within the program guidelines should be entered on the same repair order as the campaign repair using the Z79YX operators as appropriate.

Dear Buick Customer:

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

SAFETY NON-COMPLIANCE RECALL FOR:

General Motors has determined that certain 1997 LeSabre and 1996 Park Avenue/Ultra model vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies". These vehicles may have been assembled with one or more incorrect seat belt and/or seat belt buckle ends. If an incorrect part is used, the seat belt may not latch properly increasing the risk of injury to the occupant should a vehicle crash occur.

ACTION:

To correct this condition and in order to comply with FMVSS 209, customers/dealers will inspect all front and rear seat belt latch ends and seat belt buckle ends for correct parts. Dealers will replace any incorrect parts. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

INSPECTION:

You may inspect the seat belt latch ends and seat belt buckle ends yourself or ask your Buick dealer to inspect them for you. If you want to inspect them yourself and possibly save a trip to your dealer, please follow the attached procedure.

HOW LONG WILL REPAIR TAKE?:

If you take your vehicle to your Buick dealer for inspection/parts replacement, labor time necessary to perform this service correction is approximately 15 minutes to three (3) hours. Additionally, one or two hours may be required to schedule and process your vehicle. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed.

CONTACTING YOUR BUICK DEALER:

If you choose to have your Buick dealer perform the inspection or require a part replacement, please contact your dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date and courtesy transportation, if required. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer and parts are available.

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 (5) days, we recommend you contact the Buick Customer Relations Center by calling 1-800-521-7300.

After contacting your dealer and the Customer Relations 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 202-366-0123).

CUSTOMER REPLY CARD:

The enclosed 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 have inspected the vehicle yourself and parts replacement is not required or 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 you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

Buick Motor Division GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION

SEAT BELT LATCH END AND SEAT BELT BUCKLE END INSPECTION

IMPORTANT: ALL FRONT AND REAR BELTS AND BUCKLES MUST BE inspected.

1. Inspect all seat belt latch ends and buckle ends in your vehicle to verify that they resemble the appropriate illustration on the following page. All six belt ends and all six buckle ends must be inspected.

la. If all parts are correct, be sure to fill out the postage paid reply card enclosed with this letter and check "service was done as requested on;" date the card, sign card, and return it to Buick Motor Division. This will allow us to remove your vehicle from further campaign follow-up communications.

1b. If any belt latch end or buckle end is incorrect, please make an appointment with your dealer to have the correct part(s) installed.

General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, do not assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.