The defect
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THAT MAY NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG INFLATOR COULD RUPTURE.
The risk
THIS COULD RESULT IN REDUCED CAPABILITY OF THE AIR BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER. ALSO IF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR RUPTURED, PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A NEW DRIVER'S AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 11, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Buick Rendezvous | 2003 |
| Cadillac Deville | 2003 |
| Chevrolet Impala | 2003 |
| Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 2003 |
| Chevrolet Trailblazer | 2003 |
| Chevrolet Venture | 2003 |
| GMC Envoy | 2003 |
| Pontiac Montana | 2003 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buick Rendezvous | 2003 | 281 | 6 |
| Cadillac Deville | 2003 | 145 | 4 |
| Chevrolet Impala | 2003 | 695 | 5 |
| Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 2003 | 158 | 6 |
| Chevrolet Trailblazer | 2003 | 901 | 8 |
| Chevrolet Venture | 2003 | 185 | 5 |
| GMC Envoy | 2003 | 394 | 7 |
| Pontiac Montana | 2003 | 84 | 5 |
Other air bags recalls in 2003
10 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the air bags; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 03V426000 29 Oct 2003 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 03V421000 24 Oct 2003 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 03V356000 29 Sept 2003 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 03V322000 26 Aug 2003 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V321000 26 Aug 2003 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V150000 25 Apr 2003 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 03V144000 9 Apr 2003 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V082000 6 Mar 2003 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER MANUFACTUR INTERNATIONAL |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003