Bulletin No.: 14537
Date: September, 2014

Recall Bulletin

PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL
SUBJECT:

Driver Airbag Connector Terminal Retention Loose

MODELS:

2014 Chevrolet Sonic

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.
CONDITION
General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain
2014 model year Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. In some vehicles, a loss of electrical connection in
the steering column may limit driver airbag deployment in some severe crashes to only the
first-stage, preventing an additional second-stage deployment in crash events intended to
include the second-stage. Absence of second-stage deployment, in crash events intended to
include the second-stage, can reduce the effectiveness of the driver airbag for some drivers in
some crash events, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. When electrical contact is not
present, the airbag light will illuminate on the IP cluster display.
CORRECTION
Dealers are to replace a pin in the IP harness clock spring coil connector located in the
steering column.
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 2014 General Motors. All Rights Reserved.

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Bulletin No.: 14537

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
12177007
1089482
(Obtain from
Kent
Automotive*)

Description
Terminal (Part of Delphi Kit J-38125 – Tray 19)

Quantity/Vehicle
1

WOVEN POLYESTER ELECTRICAL TAPE (PET) -----------------------

.10 per / vehicle
(Submit in Net
Item)

* Contact Kent Automotive at 1-888-937-5368 or www.kent-automotive.com. Do not order
from GMCCA.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
Inspection Procedure
Tools Required


J-35616-64B (L-BU), Diagnostic Test Probe

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.

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Bulletin No.: 14537

3977514

2. Remove the steering column upper trim cover (1). Refer to Steering Column Upper Trim
Cover Replacement in SI.

3977515

3. Disconnect the steering wheel air bag coil X2 connector (1).

3977516

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Bulletin No.: 14537

4. Using Diagnostic Test Probe J-35616-64B (L-BU), or equivalent, drag test the four female
terminals in the X2 connector. Gently probe into each female terminal.


If slight resistance upon insertion, and slight drag upon removal is felt, no further
action is necessary. Reconnect the X2 connector, reinstall the steering column
upper trim cover and enable the SIR. Refer to Steering Column Upper Trim
Cover Replacement and SIR Disabling and Enabling in SI.



If little or NO drag is felt, the female terminal needs replacement. Continue ahead
to the Repair Procedure below.

Repair Procedure
Tools Required


J-38125-559, Terminal Removal Tool



J-38125-7, Splice Sleeve Crimp Tool



J- 38125-6, Insulation Crimp Tool



J-38125-5, Ultratorch, or equivalent butane fueled soldering iron

3977517

1. To obtain more slack on the X2 connector harness, disconnect the neighboring connectors
(1) on the top and left side of the steering column.

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Bulletin No.: 14537

3977518

2. Remove the CPA (1) from the air bag coil X2 connector.

3977519

3. Remove approx. 50 mm (2.0 in) of tape/conduit (1) from the X2 connector harness.

3977520

4. Using terminal removal tool J-38125-559, or equivalent, gently remove the loose terminal
from the connector.

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3977521

Note: To minimize wire length loss, cut off the terminal between the core and the insulation
crimp.

3977522

5. Using side cutters, cut off the terminal end at the core joint crimp and slide off the old crimp
insulation wings.

3977523

6. From Delphi part kit J-38125 – tray 19, obtain terminal P/N 12177007.
7. Strip insulation from the wire appropriate to the new terminal being crimped.

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3977525

Important: Prior to installation, note that the terminal is in the proper orientation on the wire.
8. Slide the new terminal (1) onto the wire.

3977526

9. First hand crimp the core wings of the new terminal onto the wire using J-38125-7, crimp
E.

3977527

10. Next crimp the terminal insulation wings using J- 38125-6, crimp 2.

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3977528

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 damage to
electrical components. Use only the J-38125-5A Ultra Torch or another butane
fueled soldering iron when working on SIR circuits.
11. Solder the terminal using the Ultratorch, part number J-38125-5A, or another butane
fueled soldering iron.

3977530

12. Fully seat the new terminal (1) into the X2 connector.
13. Wrap woven polyester electrical tape (PET) or equivalent anti-abrasion tape around the
harness wires where the tape had been previously removed.

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3977531

14. Reinstall the CPA to the connector.

3977533

15. Reinstall the three removed connectors.
16. Connect an MDI and clear any DCT codes.

3977514

17. Reinstall the steering column upper trim cover. Refer to Steering Column Upper Trim Cover
Replacement in SI.

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Bulletin No.: 14537

18. Enable the Supplemental Inflatable Restraints (SIR) system. Refer to SIR Disabling and
Enabling in SI.
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.
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
9100923
9100924

Description
Steering Wheel Air Bag Coil X2 Connector Drag Test
Steering Wheel Air Bag Coil X2 Terminal Replacement
(Incl. Inspection

Labor
Time
0.5
0.8

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION
General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle.
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.

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Bulletin No.: 14537

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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