Recall - Seat Belt Buckle Breakage
Classification: GI95-010Reference: ITB95-047
Date: Sept. 6, 1995
TAKATA SEAT BELT CAMPAIGN
INTERIM CAMPAIGN ADVISORY
This advisory is being published to provide Infiniti Dealer Service personnel with interim campaign information to allow them to properly respond to their customer's needs.
APPLIED VEHICLE:
1990-91 Q45 (G50)
1990-91 M30 (F31)
NUMBER OF VEHICLES POTENTIALLY AFFECTED:
Approximately 42,000
BACKGROUND
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been investigating certain seat belt buckles manufactured by Takata Corporation for vehicles in model years 1986 through 1990 and a part of 1991. These buckles were installed in numerous models built by several manufacturers including certain 1990-1991 Infiniti models. Infiniti is aware of a small number of reports of seat belt buckle release button breakage in vehicles equipped with these Takata buckles. A broken piece may prevent the buckle from latching or prevent it from unlatching.
To resolve the investigation, Nissan and NHTSA entered into an agreement which is described in this excerpt from Nissan's letter to NHTSA which pertained to both Nissan and Infiniti vehicles in this campaign.
NHTSA is currently investigating certain Takata front seat belt buckles contained in 1986.5-1991 vehicles manufactured by numerous automobile companies, including Nissan. This investigation has been the subject of significant media attention for the past several months. Articles have appeared in major newspapers and journals throughout the U.S., and there have been reports on radio and television.
Nissan is aware that the ABS plastic button has broken in a small number of the subject Takata buckles and that pieces of the button may fall into the Front buckle assembly. Nissan also believes that some such buttons may break in the future. A broken piece may cause the buckle not to operate properly; specifically, the buckle may not latch or may not unlatch. Nissan has not confirmed any other operational difficulty in the subject vehicles relating to button breakage. Nissan does not believe a safety-related defect exists in these vehicles as a result of button breakage.
Nevertheless, Nissan believes that the widespread press coverage has been inaccurate, misleading or has otherwise caused confusion and concern among vehicle owners. It is Nissan's desire to maintain a high level of consumer satisfaction and confidence in the safety of the subject vehicles and to avoid the possibility of further erosion of satisfaction and customer confidence in the future.
As a result, Nissan has decided to undertake a voluntary campaign to replace the plastic ABS release buttons in the subject Takata front seat belts with buttons constructed of a plastic material known as PCM. All owners of the subject vehicles will be contacted by mail about this program. In addition, the owners will either (1) be advised that Nissan will extend a lifetime seat belt warranty to their vehicles (the warranty will cover all seat belt components in the vehicles and not merely be limited to the subject Takata front buckles), or (2) be reminded of the lifetime seat belt warranty which Nissan applied to vehicles beginning in the 1989 model year. This will demonstrate to Nissan owners our commitment to their safety and continuing satisfaction.
To further demonstrate our commitment, the voluntary campaign will be extended to all subject vehicles equipped with Takata buckles regardless of age. Nissan will provide quarterly reports to NHTSA as set forth in the reporting regulations for a recall and will mark the mailing envelope "Important Safety Recall Notice." Nissan will voluntarily send a follow-up owner notification to each owner who does not respond to the first notification, regardless of the response rate to that notification. Finally, Nissan will voluntarily provide NHTSA with copies of consumer complaints received by Nissan which relate to latching performance of a seat belt buckle that has been repaired in this campaign. Nissan will provide these reports to NHTSA on a quarterly basis beginning with the first quarter in which button replacements begin, for a period of time ending with the fourth quarter (one year) after the last group of initial owner notifications is sent by Nissan. However, Nissan's actions should not be construed as an admission that a safety-related defect actually exists in the subject vehicles, nor that these actions are required by Chapter 301 of Title 49 of the United States Code.
About 42,000 Infiniti vehicles are involved. The target campaign launch date (owner notification) is late January 1996.
If prior to receiving the official notice from Infiniti, an owner suspects any type of improper seat belt operation, he/she should immediately arrange to have the seat belts checked by an Infiniti dealer so that needed repairs can be performed. Any seat belt which fails to function properly will be repaired or replaced at no charge to the customer under the terms of the lifetime seat belt limited warranty.
Repair parts for this campaign are currently being developed. Ordering and part number information will be provided to all dealers in a separate communication before the program's launch. Until further information is supplied, dealers should order only those parts necessary to meet customer requests for the replacement of seat belts or seat belt components.
KEY POINTS FOR SERVICE PERSONNEL
1. Owner notifications will begin in late January 1996. however, if a customer requests a seat belt inspection prior to campaign launch, see "Dealer Responsibility" section below.
2. The campaign repair for the M30 will consist of replacing the orange/red buckle release buttons for the front seat belt buckles or the front seat belt buckles. The Q45 will require replacement of the front buckle assemblies. The rear seat belts are not involved in this campaign.
3. Until dealers are notified that the campaign parts and campaign part numbers are available, only those parts necessary to meet customer requirements for seat belt replacements should be ordered. Campaign parts kits are being prepared, and they will be required for use in completing the campaign.
DEALER RESPONSIBILITY PRIOR TO THE OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCH:
If a customer requests a seat belt inspection before the campaign launch, or complains of an inoperative seat belt, dealers should perform a functional check by attempting to latch the buckles at least three times. If a buckle fails to latch properly, or if the release button is broken, the buckle assembly must be replaced under the terms of the Lifetime Limited Warranty. Any other condition in any seat belt assembly which would be covered by the Lifetime Limited Warranty should also be repaired in accordance with current procedures. Use the warranty codes and Flat Rate Time found in the current Infiniti Flat Rate Manual.
CLAIMS INFORMATION
Prior to the campaign launch, utilize the applicable claims coding as found in either the current Infiniti "Warranty Flat Rate Manual" for the Q45 and M30 vehicles. New Claims System dealers should submit a Primary Part line using the P/N of the replaced buckle.
Should rental or towing be necessary it must be approved through your Regional Customer Services Department.