CAMPAIGN: FUEL TANK LEAKAGE. Geo Tracker - 4WD 1996

For 1990-2009 cars

# CAMPAIGN: FUEL TANK LEAKAGE

#### FMVSS NON-COMPLIANCE CAMPAIGN

#### SUBJECT: 96-C-38 - FUEL TANK LEAKAGE ---------------------------

#### MODELS: 1996 GEO TRACKER (4-DOOR ONLY) ------------------------------

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 entitied 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.

#### DEFECT INVOLVED

General Motors has decided that certain 1996 Geo Tracker (4-Door Models Only) vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 301, "Fuel System Integrity". The fuel tank on these vehicles may become punctured by a fuel tank flange attachment reinforcement (gusset) during certain types of rear- end collisions.

If this were to occur, a punctured fuel tank could allow fuel spillage in excess of the amount prescribed by FMVSS 301. If an ignition source was present, fuel leakage resulting from this puncture could result in a post-crash fire.

To correct this condition, dealers will install two new gussets between the fuel tank and attachment brackets to prevent the reinforcement from puncturing the fuel tank wall.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

Involved are CERTAIN 1996 Geo Tracker (4-Door Models Only) vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:

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

1996 Tracker CAMI "6" T6903522 T6956453

#### NOTICE: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through VISS (Vehicle Information Service System) or prior to beginning campaign repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved]

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 campaign bulletin. The Customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with customers involved in this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

These dealer 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.

#### PARTS INFORMATION:

#### Notice: An initial supply of parts required to complete this campaign will be pre-shipped to involved dealers of record. This pre-shipment will occur the week of July 01, 1996. Parts received for a recently transferred vehicle should be forwarded by the original dealer with a phone call) to the dealer that received the transferred vehicle. 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" 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 Quantity/ Number Description Vehicle ------ ----------- ---------

91173498 Gusset(Package of 2) 2

#### CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION

Customers will be notified of this campaign on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of divisional customer letter(s) 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 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 appropriate divisional 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.

This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this campaign may not comply with the standard identified above. Under 41 U.S.C. section 30112 of the Highway Safety Act as amended, 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

1. Raise and suitably support vehicle.

2. Support fuel tank with a suitable jack.

3. Slowly remove the two (2) rear fuel tank attachment bolts.

4. Install NEW gussets at each rear attachment locations as shown below.

5. Install rear fuel tank attachment bolts and torque to 35 Nm (26 lb. ft.).

6. Remove fuel tank support jack.

7. Lower vehicle.

8. Install the GM 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 by the customer for periodic servicing. When installing the 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-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

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

#### CLAIM INFORMATION

Submit a Product Campaign Claim with the information indicated below:

REPAIR PART FAILED PARTS LABOR LABOR PERFORMED COUNT PART NO. ALLOW CC-FC 0P HOURS --------- ----- -------- ----- ----- ----- ------

Install Fuel Tank 2 91173498 MA-96 V9951 0.3 Gussets

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

** The "Parts Allowance" should be the sum total of the current GMSPO Dealer Net price plus 40% for parts required to complete the repair.

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

July, 1996

Dear Geo Owner:

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

#### REASON FOR THIS RECALL

General Motors has decided that certain 1996 Geo Tracker (4-Door Models Only) vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 301, "Fuel System Integrity". The fuel tank on these vehicles may become punctured by a fuel tank flange attachment reinforcement (gusset) During certain types of rear-end collisions. If this were to occur, a punctured fuel tank could allow fuel spillage in excess of the amount prescribed by FMVSS 301. If an ignition source was present, fuel leakage resulting from this puncture could result in a post-crash fire.

WHAT WE WILL DO

To correct this condition, dealers will install two new gussets between the fuel tank and attachment brackets to prevent the reinforcement from puncturing the fuel tank wall.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

Please contact your Chevrolet/Geo dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date and so the dealer may order the necessary parts for the repair. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer. The labor time necessary to perform this service correction is approximately fifteen minutes. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed to schedule and process your vehicle.

The enclosed owner 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 sold or traded your vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage paid reply card and returning it to us.

Your Chevrolet dealer is best equipped to 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 five (5) days, we recommend you contact the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center by calling 1-800-222-1020.

After contacting your dealer and the Customer Assistance 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).

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.

Chevrolet Motor Division GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION

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.