GLOBAL SAFETY FIELD INVESTIGATIONS
DCS5117
URGENT - DISTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY
Date:

August 15, 2019

Subject: N182188250 - Special Coverage
Loss of Continuity within Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor Circuit
Models: 2017-2018 Buick LaCrosse
2018 Buick Regal
2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu
To:

All General Motors Dealers

General Motors is releasing Special Coverage N182188250 today. The total
number of U.S. vehicles involved is approximately 586,625. Please see the
attached bulletin for details.
Customer Letter Mailing
The customer letter mailing will begin on August 26, 2019.
Global Warranty Management (GWM)
The Applicable Warranties section on the Investigate Vehicle History (IVH) screen will
be updated August 16, 2019. Please hold all warranty transactions until IVH has been
updated.
END OF MESSAGE
GLOBAL SAFETY FIELD INVESTIGATIONS

Special Coverage Adjustment
N182188250 Loss of Continuity within Accelerator Pedal Position
Sensor Circuit
Release Date:

August 2019

Make

Model

Buick
Buick
Chevrolet

LaCrosse
Regal
Malibu

Revision:
Model Year
From
To
2017
2018
2018
2018
2016
2018

RPO

00
Description

Involved vehicles are identified on the Applicable Warranties section in GM Global Warranty Management system. This
site should always be checked to confirm vehicle involvement prior to beginning any required inspections and/or repairs.
Condition

Certain 2016-2018 model year Chevrolet Malibu, 2017-2018 model year Buick LaCrosse, and 2018
model year Buick Regal vehicles may have a condition which affects the electrical connection to one
of the vehicle’s accelerator pedal position sensors. If this electrical connection is interrupted, the
accelerator pedal will still function, but the vehicle will enter a reduced engine power mode in which
the vehicle’s maximum acceleration and torque are reduced. Additionally, the Malfunction Indicator
Light (Check Engine Light) will illuminate, the ‘Engine Power is Reduced’ message will display, and a
diagnostic trouble code for Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor Correlation (P2138) will be set when
this condition occurs.

Special
Coverage
Adjustment

This special coverage covers the condition described above for a period of 10 years or 150,000 miles
(240,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service,
regardless of ownership.
For vehicles covered by Vehicle Service Contracts, all eligible claims with repair orders on or after
August 15, 2019, are covered by this special coverage and must be submitted using the labor operation
codes provided with this bulletin. Claims with repair orders prior to August 15, 2019, must be submitted
to the Service Contract provider.
Vehicle owners or lessees who paid for repairs referenced in this Special Coverage (“Customers”) are
eligible for reimbursement of their reasonable and customary expenses in accordance with the
procedures specified below. The conditional right to reimbursement is provided by GM solely in the
interest of customer satisfaction and is personal to Customers. Customers may not assign and GM
does not consent to any assignment of any Customer’s right to submit reimbursement claims, or to
receive reimbursement, or any other rights granted by this Special Coverage to any third party,
including but not limited to service contract providers, and this Special Coverage is not intended to
and does not confer any third party beneficiary, subrogation or contribution rights, or any other rights
to reimbursement, against GM, whether in law, equity or otherwise, on any third parties.

Correction

Dealers are to replace the accelerator pedal and position sensor assembly as necessary and repair the
engine wire harness (Malibu LFV only). The repairs will be made at no charge to the customer.

Parts
Quantity
1
1
1
2
1

As Req.

Part Name
Accelerator Pedal
Accelerator Pedal
Hose – Heater Inlet
Hose Clamp
Coolant

Woven Polyester Electrical Tape (PET) or equivalent anti-abrasion tape

Part No.
84478055
84478060
23416963
90572594
12346290 (US)
10953464 (Canada)
Obtain Local
Equivalent-(EXPORT)
1089482*
Obtain Local
Equivalent-(EXPORT)

Note: Use the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the GM Electronic Parts Catalog (EPC) to determine which
Accelerator Pedal Assembly to order.
* To obtain the PET tape, contact Kent Automotive at 1-888-937-5368 (USA), 1-800-563-1717 (Canada), or www.kentautomotive.com to request the special-order part number 1089482. Dealers that do not have a Kent Automotive account
or representative must advise the Customer Service Representative that part 1089482 is being used for GM Bulletin to
obtain special bulletin pricing. Do not order from GMCCA.
Reminder: Parts may be removed from Retail Inventory Management (RIM). Dealers should review the affected parts
to confirm RIM managed status. Parts may have quantity limiters in effect.
Copyright 2019 General Motors. All Rights Reserved.

Page 1 of 4

Special Coverage Adjustment
N182188250 Loss of Continuity within Accelerator Pedal Position
Sensor Circuit
Warranty Information
Labor
Operation
9900604

9900605

9900606
9900607

Description
Diagnostic Time Only – No Repair Required
Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor Replacement
Add: Replace Heater Inlet Hose
Add: Diagnostic Time
Add: Wire Repair
Add: Rotate Hose Clamp
Customer Reimbursement Approved
- For USA and Canada dealers only
- For Export dealers only
Customer Reimbursement Denied – For USA dealers only

Labor
Time
0.1-1.0
0.3
0.9
0.1-1.0
0.1-0.5
0.1

Trans.
Type
ZREG

Net
Item
N/A

ZREG

*

N/A
0.2
N/A

ZREG

**

ZREG

***

*

The amount identified in “Net Item” should represent the actual sum total of the current GMCC&A Dealer net price
for woven polyester electrical tape needed to perform the required repairs, not to exceed $0.66 USD/CAD, plus
applicable Mark-Up or Landed Cost (for Export).

**

For USA and Canada: Submit the dollar amount reimbursed to the Customer in Net/Reimbursement. Submit $20.00
administrative allowance in Net/Admin Allowance.
For Export: Submit the dollar amount reimbursed to the Customer in Net/Reimbursement.

*** Submit $10.00 administrative allowance in Net/Admin Allowance.
Service Procedure
1.

A vehicle may come in with DTC P2138 current or in history. This may be accompanied by a loss of engine
power. Follow the diagnostics located in SI for DTC P2122, P2123, P2127, P2128, or P2138 to determine if the
accelerator pedal position sensor requires replacement.
•

If diagnostics lead to the accelerator pedal position sensor replacement, refer to Accelerator Pedal Position
Sensor Replacement in SI.

•

If diagnostics do NOT lead to the accelerator pedal position sensor replacement, no further repairs are
covered under this special coverage. Claim diagnostic time and inform the customer that any further
diagnostic or repair time will be under warranty, customer pay, or good will.

5309871

2.

On Malibu (LFV engine) applications only, inspect the engine wire harness adjacent to the heater inlet hose for
contact with the heater inlet hose clamp on the engine outlet portion of the hose as shown.

Caution: The heater hose clamp may be glued to the heater hose. If the clamp is glued to the heater hose, do not attempt
to rotate the heater hose clamp, as heater hose damage may occur and clamp may have residual rubber material on it.
Instead, replace the heater hose and both clamps.
Page 2 of 4

Special Coverage Adjustment
N182188250 Loss of Continuity within Accelerator Pedal Position
Sensor Circuit
3.

If contact is observed between the heater hose clamp and the engine wire harness, attempt to rotate the heater
hose clamp tabs away from the engine harness, ensuring the clamp stays within the alignment guide markings.
•

If the heater inlet hose clamp is not glued to the heater inlet hose, rotate the heater inlet hose clamp so the
tabs are facing away from the engine wire harness. Ensure the clamp stays within the alignment guide
markings. There should be at least ¾ inch (19mm) of clearance between the heater hose clamp tabs and
the engine wire harness.

•

If the heater hose clamp is glued to the heater hose, replace the heater inlet hose and both heater hose
clamps, being sure to clock the heater inlet hose clamps so the tabs are facing away from any adjacent
engine wire harnesses. Ensure the clamp stays within the alignment guide markings. Refer to Heater Inlet
Hose Replacement (LFV) in SI.

•

If any damage is observed to the engine harness, repair the harness and the affected circuits. Refer to Wire
to Wire Repair in SI. Rewrap the harness in the affected area with PET tape in addition to clocking the hose
clamp away from the harness to ensure another rub-through event is no longer possible.

Courtesy Transportation – For USA & Canada
Courtesy transportation is available for Customers whose vehicles are involved in a product program and still within the
warranty coverage period. See General Motors Service Policies and Procedures Manual, Sections 1.4 and 6.1.10, for
courtesy transportation program details.
Customer Notification
General Motors will notify Customers of this special coverage on their vehicle (see copy of typical Customer letter included
with this bulletin).
Customer Reimbursement
Customer requests for reimbursement of previously paid repairs to correct the condition described in this bulletin are to
be submitted to the dealer prior to or by August 15, 2020. See General Motors Service Policies and Procedures Manual,
Section 6.1.11 – Product Field Action Customer Reimbursement Procedure (USA & Canada) or local Policies and
Procedures, for details.

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these 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 tools, equipment, 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 your dealer for information on whether your
vehicle may benefit from the information.

We Support
Voluntary Technician
Certification

Page 3 of 4

Special Coverage Adjustment
N182188250 Loss of Continuity within Accelerator Pedal Position
Sensor Circuit
August 2019
This notice applies to your vehicle, VIN: _____________________________________
Dear General Motors Customer:
As the owner of a 2017-2018 model year Buick LaCrosse, 2018 model year Buick Regal, or 2016-2018 model year
Chevrolet Malibu vehicle, your satisfaction with our product is very important to us.
This letter is intended to make you aware that some 2017-2018 model year Buick LaCrosse, 2018 model year Buick
Regal, 2016-2018 model year Chevrolet Malibu vehicles may have a condition that affects the electrical connection to
one of the vehicle’s accelerator pedal position sensors. If this electrical connection is interrupted, the accelerator pedal
will still function, but the vehicle will enter a reduced engine power mode where the vehicle’s maximum acceleration and
torque are reduced. Additionally, the Malfunction Indicator Light (Check Engine Light) will illuminate, the ‘Engine Power
is Reduced’ message will display, and a diagnostic trouble code for Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor Correlation
(P2138) will be set when this condition occurs.
Do not take your vehicle to your GM dealer as a result of this letter unless you believe that your vehicle has the
condition as described above.
What We Have Done: General Motors is providing owners with additional protection for the condition described above.
If this condition occurs on your 2017-2018 model year Buick LaCrosse, 2018 model year Buick Regal, or 2016-2018
model year Chevrolet Malibu vehicle within 10 years of the date your vehicle was originally placed in service or 150,000
miles (240,000 km), whichever occurs first, the condition will be repaired for you at no charge. Diagnosis or repair for
conditions other than the condition described above is not covered under this special coverage program.
What You Should Do: If you believe that your vehicle has the condition described above, repairs and adjustments
qualifying under this special coverage must be performed by a General Motors dealer. You may want to contact your
GM dealer to find out how long they will need to have your vehicle so that you may schedule the appointment at a time
that is convenient for you. This will also allow your dealer to order parts if they are not already in stock. Keep this letter
with your other important glove box literature for future reference.
Reimbursement: If you have already paid for repairs for the condition described in this letter, please complete the
enclosed reimbursement form and present it to your dealer with all required documents. Working with your dealer will
expedite your request, however, if this is not convenient, you may mail the completed reimbursement form and all
required documents to Reimbursement Department, PO Box 33170, Detroit, MI 48232-5170. The completed form and
required documents must be presented to your dealer or received by the Reimbursement Department by August 15,
2020, unless state law specifies a longer reimbursement period.
The right to submit reimbursement claims is provided by GM solely in the interest of customer satisfaction and is
personal to vehicle owners and lessees who previously paid for repairs referenced in this Special Coverage
(“Customers”). Customers may not assign and GM does not consent to any assignment of any Customer’s right
to submit reimbursement claims, or to receive reimbursement, or any other rights granted by this Special
Coverage to any third party, including but not limited to service contract providers, and this Special Coverage
is not intended to and does not confer any third party beneficiary, subrogation or contribution rights, or any
other rights to reimbursement, against GM, whether in law, equity or otherwise, on any third parties.
If you have any questions or need any assistance, please contact your dealer or the appropriate Customer Assistance
Center at the number listed below.
Division
Buick
Chevrolet
Puerto Rico – English
Puerto Rico – Español
Virgin Islands

Number
1-800-521-7300
1-800-222-1020
1-800-496-9992
1-800-496-9993
1-800-496-9994

Text Telephones (TTY)
1-800-832-8425
1-800-833-2438

We are sorry for any inconvenience you may experience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your
continued satisfaction with our products.
Neelie O’Connor
Executive Director
North America Contact Center Operations
Enclosure
N182188250

Page 4 of 4