Bulletin No.: 12261A
Date: February 2013

Recall Bulletin

PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL
SUBJECT:

Intermittent Airbag Warning Light Illuminated – Replace Steering Wheel
Airbag Coil

MODELS:

2012 Buick Verano
2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze, Sonic

The part numbers for the Chevrolet Cruze have been revised in the Part Information section.
Please discard all copies of bulletin 12261.
CONDITION
General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in
certain 2012 model year Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.
Some of these vehicles have a condition in which the shorting bar inside of the dual stage
driver's airbag may occasionally contact the primary stage airbag terminals. If contact occurs,
the airbag warning light will illuminate. In the event of a crash, if the bar and terminals are
contacting each other, the primary stage airbag will not deploy, resulting in increased risk of
personal injury.
CORRECTION
Dealers are to replace the steering wheel airbag coil, which will eliminate contact between the
shorting bar and airbag terminals.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
All involved vehicles are identified by Vehicle Identification Number on the Investigate Vehicle
History screen in GM Global Warranty Management system. Dealership service personnel
should always check this site to confirm vehicle involvement prior to beginning any required
inspections and/or repairs. It is important to routinely use this tool to verify eligibility because
not all similar vehicles may be involved regardless of description or option content.
For dealers with involved vehicles, a listing with involved vehicles containing the complete
vehicle identification number, customer name, and address information has been prepared
and will be provided to US and Canadian dealers through the GM GlobalConnect Recall
Reports. Dealers will not have a report available if they have no involved vehicles currently
assigned.
Copyright 2013 General Motors. All Rights Reserved.

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February 2013

Bulletin No.: 12261A

The listing may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle
Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any purpose other
than follow-up necessary to complete this recall is a violation of law in several
states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this report to the
follow-up necessary to complete this recall.
PART INFORMATION
Parts required to complete this recall are to be obtained from General Motors Customer Care
and Aftersales (GMCC&A). Please refer to your “involved vehicles listing” before ordering
parts. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. In an
emergency situation, parts should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.
Part Number

Description

Quantity/Vehicle

22902363

COIL, STRG WHL AIRBAG (6 CIRCUIT)
(Cruze w/o steering wheel controls)

1

22899138

COIL, STRG WHL AIRBAG (14 CIRCUIT)
(Cruze w/steering wheel controls)

1

22902363

COIL, STRG WHL AIRBAG (6 CIRCUIT)
(Sonic w/o steering wheel controls)

1

22899138

COIL, STRG WHL AIRBAG (14 CIRCUIT)
(Sonic & Verano w/steering wheel controls)

1

22899778

COIL, STRG WHL AIRBAG
(Verano w/heated wheel)

1

22942867

COIL,STRG WHL AIRBAG
(Camaro)

1

SERVICE PROCEDURE
1. Remove the steering wheel airbag coil. Refer to Steering Wheel Airbag Coil Replacement
in SI.
2. Install a new steering wheel airbag coil. Refer to Steering Wheel Airbag Coil Replacement
in SI.
COURTESY TRANSPORTATION
The General Motors Courtesy Transportation program is intended to minimize customer
inconvenience when a vehicle requires a repair that is covered by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranties. The availability of courtesy transportation to customers whose vehicles are within
the warranty coverage period and involved in a product program is very important in
maintaining customer satisfaction. Dealers are to ensure that these customers understand
that shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation is available and will be
provided at no charge. Dealers should refer to the General Motors Service Policies and
Procedures Manual for Courtesy Transportation guidelines.

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February 2013

Bulletin No.: 12261A

WARRANTY TRANSACTION INFORMATION
Submit a transaction using the table below.
Labor
Code
V2698

Description
Replace Steering Wheel Airbag Coil
- Cruze, Sonic, Verano
- Camaro

Labor
Time
0.3
0.6

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION
General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter
included with this bulletin.
DEALER RECALL RESPONSIBILITY – For US (US States, Territories, and
Possessions)
It is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to deliver a new motor vehicle or any new or used
item of motor vehicle equipment (including a tire) covered by this notification under a sale or
lease until the defect or noncompliance is remedied.
The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle that is subject
to a recall 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 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 remedies, every
effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair
their vehicle as soon as possible. In the recall notification letters, customers are told how to
contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the recall is not completed
within a reasonable time.
DEALER RECALL RESPONSIBILITY – All
All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this recall must be held and
inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this recall bulletin before customers take
possession of these vehicles.
Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this recall 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. A copy of the customer letter is provided in this bulletin
for your use in contacting customers. Recall follow-up cards should not be used for this
purpose, since the customer may not as yet have received the notification letter.

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February 2013

Bulletin No.: 12261A

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall enters your vehicle inventory, or is in
your dealership for service in the future, you must take the steps necessary to be sure the
recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

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

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February 2013

Bulletin No.: 12261A

Dear General Motors Customer:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and
Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in
certain 2012 model year Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles. As
a result, GM is conducting a safety recall. We apologize for this inconvenience. However, we
are concerned about your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

IMPORTANT




Your vehicle is involved in safety recall 12261.
Schedule an appointment with your GM dealer.
This service will be performed for you at no charge.

Why is your
vehicle being
recalled?

The shorting bar inside of the dual stage driver's airbag may
occasionally contact the primary stage airbag terminals. If contact
occurs, the airbag warning light will illuminate. In the event of a
crash, if the bar and terminals are contacting each other, the
primary stage airbag will not deploy, resulting in increased risk of
personal injury.

What will we
do?

Your GM dealer will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, which will
eliminate contact between the shorting bar and airbag terminals.
This service will be performed for you at no charge.
Because of service scheduling requirements, it is likely that your
dealer will need your vehicle longer than the actual service
correction time of approximately 20 to 40 minutes.
If your vehicle is within the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, your
dealer may provide you with shuttle service or some other form of
courtesy transportation while your vehicle is at the dealership for
this repair. Please refer to your Owner Manual and your dealer for
details on courtesy transportation.

What should
you do?

You should contact your GM dealer to arrange a service
appointment as soon as possible.

Do you have
questions?

If you have questions or concerns that your dealer is unable to
resolve, please contact the appropriate Customer Assistance
Center at the number listed below.

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February 2013

Division

Number

Buick
Chevrolet
Guam
Puerto Rico – English
Puerto Rico – Español
Virgin Islands

1-800-521-7300
1-800-222-1020
65-6267-1752
1-800-496-9992
1-800-496-9993
1-800-496-9994

Bulletin No.: 12261A
Text Telephones
(TTY)
1-800-832-8425
1-800-833-2438

If after contacting your dealer and the Customer Assistance Center, you are still not satisfied
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, 1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590, or call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at
1.888.327.4236 (TTY 1.800.424.9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov. The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration Campaign ID Number for this recall is 12V522.
Federal regulation requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a
copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days.
Jim Moloney
General Director,
Customer and Relationship Services
GM Recall #12261