Bulletin No.: 14030A
Date: April 2014

Recall Bulletin

PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL
SUBJECT:

Side Impact Airbag Connector

MODELS:

Some 2008-2009 and all 2010-2013 Buick Enclave
Some 2009 and all 2010-2013 Chevrolet Traverse
Some 2008-2009 and all 2010-2013 GMC Acadia
Some 2008-2009 and all 2010 Saturn OUTLOOK

The service procedure in this bulletin has been revised. A revision has been made to the Note
statement before Step 5, and a Note statement has been added before Step 10. Please discard
all copies of bulletin 14030.
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.
All involved vehicles that are in dealer inventory must be held and not delivered to customers,
dealer traded, or used for demonstration purposes until the repair contained in this bulletin has
been performed on the vehicle.
Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Program 10085 or Special Coverage 10335
have already had the subject condition repaired are therefore not included in this safety recall.
CONDITION
General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some
2008-2009 and all 2010-2013 model year Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia vehicles; some 2009
and all 2010-2013 model year Chevrolet Traverse vehicles, and some 2008-2009 and all 2010
model year Saturn OUTLOOK vehicles. Corrosion and/or loose crimps in the driver and
passenger seat mounted side impact airbag (SIAB) wiring harness connectors can cause an
increase in resistance. The airbag sensing system will interpret an increase in resistance as a
fault. A fault will illuminate the airbag readiness light on the instrument cluster and a "SERVICE
AIR BAG" message in the Driver Information Center (DIC), and set a Diagnostic Trouble Code
(DTC). At first, at lower levels of resistance, the light and DIC message may be intermittent and
the airbags and pretensioners will still deploy. Over time, the resistance may reach a level where
the SIABs, front center side airbag, if equipped, and pretensioners will not deploy in a crash.

Copyright 2014 General Motors. All Rights Reserved.

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April 2014

Bulletin No.: 14030A

CORRECTION
Dealers are to remove the driver and passenger SIAB wiring harness connectors and splice and
solder the wires together.
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, or
sent directly to export dealers. Dealers will not have a report available if they have no involved
vehicles currently assigned.
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 followup necessary to complete this recall.
PART INFORMATION
Parts required to complete this program 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
05297428
12355010

Description

Quantity/Vehicle

CLIP, WRG HARN SPLICE (merch pk of 10)

8 (2010-2012)
10 (2013)
1-2

TUBING, SHRINK (1/8" BLACK) (merch pk of 10)
WOVEN POLYESTER ELECTRICAL TAPE (PET) – PART
Obtain from
NUMBER 1089482 (preferred)
Kent
or EQUIVALENT ANTI-ABRASION TAPE OR
Automotive*
ELECTRICAL TAPE
Obtain from
Kent
YELLOW ELECTRICAL TAPE
Automotive*
or Locally

As Req'd
(submit as Net Item)

As Req'd
(submit as Net Item)

* To obtain the PET and yellow electrical tape, contact Kent Automotive at 1-888-YES-KENT
(1-888-937-5368) and request the special order part number 1089482.

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April 2014

Bulletin No.: 14030A

SERVICE PROCEDURE
Warning: When performing service on or near the SIR components or the SIR wiring, the SIR
system must be disabled. Failure to observe the correct procedure could cause deployment of
the SIR components. Serious injury can occur. Failure to observe the correct procedure could
also result in unnecessary SIR system repairs.
1.

Disable the Supplemental Inflatable Restraints (SIR) system. Refer to SIR Disabling and
Enabling in SI.

Note: Perform the procedure in this bulletin on BOTH the front driver and passenger seat. The
yellow 2-way, 4-way, or 6-way connector is located under the seat; refer to the table below.
Model
Year
2008
2009-2012
2013
2.

Seat & Body Harness Connector
Driver Seat
Passenger Seat
Connector
Connector
Yellow 2-way
Yellow 2-way
Yellow 4-way
Yellow 4-way
Yellow 6-way
Yellow 4-way

Perform steps 2.1-2.4 on both the front driver and passenger seats to gain better access to
the seat and body harness and yellow 2-way, 4-way, or 6-way connector.
2.1 Use a flat-bladed tool to release the tab in the rear of the front seat adjuster bolt finish
cover.
2.2 Pull upward to release the retainer clip securing the cover to the seat adjuster.

Caution: Spray the seat bolts with a penetrating oil lubricant BEFORE removing the bolts.
2.3 Remove the front seat assembly bolts.
Note: Refer to PI0521D. 2011 model year vehicles with build date 01/01/11 through EORP
and 2012 model year vehicles SORP through 01/20/12 have shims installed behind the front
mounting hooks into the floor pan that may get knocked out of position during seat removal.
Make sure the shims are not lost during seat removal.
2.4 Tilt the seat rearward until the seat back rests on the floor of the vehicle.

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April 2014

Bulletin No.: 14030A

3714178

A yellow 4-way connector shown. The 2-way or 6-way yellow connector is similar.

3.

Locate the yellow 2-way, 4-way, or 6-way connector under the seat.

3714191

4.

Remove 76 mm (3 in) of conduit and tape on both sides of the yellow connector to gain
access to the wires.

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April 2014

Bulletin No.: 14030A

3714181

3782976

Four-way connector shown with wire harness out of vehicle for illustration purposes. It is critical that
the wire pairs are identified correctly to avoid splicing incorrect wire pairs.

Note: Before removing the yellow connector from the seat and body harness, note the wire
colors of the seat and body harness. Some wire pairs may be a slightly different color. Some
wire pairs may have different colors. Ensure the wires are matched BEFORE splicing the wires
of the seat and body harness together. Use the cutoff connector as a wire color template.
BEFORE removing the connector from the harness, mark or identify wire pairs of similar color
using a pen and tape to ensure the correct wires are spliced together. The first photograph
shows a 4-way connector (1) and a 6-way connector (2).

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April 2014

Bulletin No.: 14030A

3714186

5.

Cut the wires from the seat harness connector and body harness connector as close to the
connector housing as possible to minimize wire length loss.

3714199

6.

Remove 13 mm (1/2 in) of insulation from the seat and body harness wire ends.

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April 2014

Bulletin No.: 14030A

3714197

Note: Only use heat shrink tube, P/N 12355010, or an equivalent flexible adhesivelined/moisture resistant heat shrink tube to perform the repair in this bulletin.
7.

Install one 38 mm (1.5 in) section of heat shrink tube (1) onto each of the two, four, or six
exposed wires on one side of seat and body harness.

8.

Fold the 13 mm (1/2 in) ends of exposed copper wires over each other and crimp the
splice clip (2) over the wires using Special Tool J-38125-8, crimp nest F.

9.

Inspect the crimp quality.

3714193

Warning: DO NOT use soldering equipment that is battery or electric powered. These types of
soldering irons can induce voltage into the circuit, which may cause inflator module
deployment and/or damage to electrical components. Use only the EL-28125-5 Ultra Torch or
another butane fueled soldering iron when working on SIR circuits.

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April 2014

Bulletin No.: 14030A

Caution: Keep the heat shrink tube (1) above the splice when soldering the splice (3) to
ensure that the heat shrink is not prematurely shrunk and closed down over the wire or splice
area due to the heat from the soldering iron.
Note: Use rosin core lead solder. The higher the lead content the better as it has a lower
melting point.
10. Solder the crimp and splice clip using the Ultratorch, part number J-38125-5, or another
butane fueled soldering iron.

3714207

11. Center the heat shrink tube (1) over the splice and use the Ultratorch, part number
J-38125-5, or another butane fueled soldering iron, to shrink and seal the heat shrink tube
securely over the splice crimp and insulated wires.

3714218

12. Wrap woven polyester electrical tape (PET) or equivalent anti-abrasion tape or electrical
tape (4) around the spliced section of the seat and body harness wires.

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April 2014

Bulletin No.: 14030A

Warning: Ensure yellow tape is wrapped around the splice section of the seat and body wire
harness to properly identify supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) wiring. Failure to properly
identify SIR wiring could cause deployment of the SIR components, personal injury, or
unnecessary SIR system repairs.
13. Wrap yellow electrical tape over the polyester electrical tape or black electrical tape.
Caution: Avoid routing the harness along sharp metal edges. Ensure that harness is secured
with some slack in the harness to allow the harness to flex or move. Move the seat full forward
and then full rearward to ensure the slack is appropriate for the entire seat travel.
14. Using the original mounting hole for the removed connector, secure the harness in position
using a nylon tie strap.
15. Re-install driver and passenger seat.
Note: For 2011-2013 model year vehicles, refer to PI0521D for seat reinstall instructions.
15.1 Install the two front seat assembly bolts. Tighten the bolts to 45 N·m (33 lb ft).
15.2 Install the two front seat adjuster bolt finish covers.
16. Enable the SIR system. Refer to Disabling and Enabling in SI.
17. Clear any sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) DTCs using a scan tool. Verify that the
airbag indicator is NOT displayed on the instrument panel cluster (IPC). If DTCs appear
after clearing the SDM, refer to the appropriate diagnostic information in SI.
CUSTOMER REIMBURSEMENT - For US
Customer requests for reimbursement of previously paid repairs for the recall condition are to
be submitted to the dealer by May 31, 2015, unless otherwise specified by state law. If this is
not convenient for the customer, they may mail the completed Customer Reimbursement
Request Form and all required documents to the GM Customer Assistance Center.
All reasonable and customary costs to correct the condition described in this bulletin
should be considered for reimbursement. Any questions or concerns should be reviewed
with your GM representative prior to processing the request.
When a customer requests reimbursement, they must provide the following:




A completed Customer Reimbursement Request Form. This form is mailed to the
customer or can be obtained through GM GlobalConnect.
The name and address of the person who paid for the repair.
Paid receipt confirming the amount of the repair expense, a description of the repair, and
the person or entity performing the repair.

IMPORTANT: GM requires dealers to approve or deny a reimbursement request within 30 days
of receipt. If a reimbursement request is approved, the dealer should immediately issue a check
to the customer and submit an appropriate warranty transaction for the incurred expense. If a
reimbursement request is denied, the dealer MUST provide the customer with a clear and
concise explanation, in writing, as to why the request was denied. The bottom portion of the
Customer Reimbursement Request Form may be used for this purpose. If the denial was due
to missing documents, the customer can resubmit the request when the missing documents are
obtained, as long as it is still within the allowed reimbursement period.

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April 2014

Bulletin No.: 14030A

Warranty transactions for customer reimbursement of previously paid repairs are to be submitted
as required by GM Global Warranty Management. Additional information can also be found in
Warranty Administration Bulletin 11-00-89-004.
CUSTOMER REIMBURSEMENT - For Canada and Export
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 May 31, 2015.
When a customer requests reimbursement, they must provide the following:
-

Proof of ownership at time of repair.
Original paid receipt confirming the amount of unreimbursed repair expense(s) (including
Service Contract deductibles), a description of the repair, and the person or entity
performing the repair.

All reasonable and customary costs to correct the condition described in this bulletin should be
considered for reimbursement. Any questions or concerns should be reviewed with your GM
representative prior to processing the request.
FLOOR PLAN REIMBURSEMENT
Dealers in possession of vehicles in new dealer inventory included in the Stop Delivery are
eligible for reimbursement of floor plan expense upon completion of this recall. This
reimbursement is limited to the number of days from the Stop Delivery message to receipt of the
recall parts and/or repair procedures. Floor plan reimbursement beyond these dates is not
allowed. The amount of reimbursement should be charged as a net amount expense using the
recall labor operation provided.
COURTESY TRANSPORTATION – For US and Canada
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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April 2014

Bulletin No.: 14030A

WARRANTY TRANSACTION INFORMATION
Submit a transaction using the table below. All transactions should be submitted as a ZFAT
transaction type, unless noted otherwise.
Labor Code
9100413

9100414**
9100415**
9100426****

Labor
Time

Description
Vehicle Harness Repair
2008 Vehicles
2009-2012 Vehicles
2013 Vehicles
Customer Reimbursement Approved
Customer Reimbursement Denied – For US dealers only
Floor Plan Reimbursement (for new dealer inventory
vehicles, if applicable)

1.2
1.6
1.8
0.2
0.1
N/A

Net
Item
*

***
N/A
*****

*

The amount identified in “Net Item” should represent the actual cost of the woven polyester
electrical tape and yellow electrical tape needed to perform the required repairs, not to
exceed $0.66 USD/CAD.

**

Customer reimbursement will not close this program. The service procedure must also
be performed on the vehicle. To avoid having to "H" route this transaction for approval, it
must be submitted prior to the repair transaction.

***

The amount identified in “Net Item” should represent the dollar amount reimbursed to the
customer.

****

To avoid having to "H" route this transaction for approval, it must be submitted prior to
the repair transaction.

***** The amount identified in “Net Item” should represent the product of the vehicle’s average
daily interest rate (see table below) multiplied by the actual number of days the vehicle
was in dealer inventory and not available for sale. This reimbursement is limited to the
number of days from the date of the stop delivery message (March 14, 2014) to the date
the repair is completed and the vehicle is ready for sale (not to exceed 15 days):
Vehicle

US
Reimbursement Amount

Canadian
Reimbursement Amount

2013 Buick Enclave

$6.58

$7.48

2013 Chevrolet Traverse

$4.99

$5.76

2013 GMC Acadia

$5.83

$6.65

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION – For US and Canada
General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle.
CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION – For Export
Letters will be sent to known owners of record located within areas covered by the US National
Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

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April 2014

Bulletin No.: 14030A

DEALER RECALL RESPONSIBILITY – For US and Export (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. Recall 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 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.

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