Bulletin No.: 14128A
Date: June 2014

Recall Bulletin

PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL
SUBJECT:

Incorrect Front Brake Rotor

MODELS:

2014 Buick LaCrosse
2014 Chevrolet Malibu

This bulletin has been revised to include a copy of the customer letter. Please discard all
copies of bulletin 14128.
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.
Vehicles involved in this recall were placed on stop delivery May 1, 2014. Once the service
procedure contained in this bulletin has been performed on the vehicle, the vehicle is released
from stop delivery and the vehicle can be delivered to the customer.
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 some
2014 model year Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Malibu vehicles equipped with a 17 inch front
brake assembly. The front brake assembly on subject vehicles may have been built with the
rear brake rotor, which by design, is 7 mm thinner than the front rotor. On new vehicles, brake
performance is not initially affected. However, higher heat will be generated by the thinner rear
brake rotor and this will significantly shorten the brake pad life. As the pads and rotor wear, the
outer brake pad will become disengaged from the caliper bracket, and the diagonal corners of
the brake system will lose hydraulic integrity. This will result in reduced brake system
performance and illuminate the brake warning light. Additional brake application will result in
loss of braking. Reduced performance or loss of brakes will increase the risk of a crash.
CORRECTION
Dealers are to inspect both front brake rotors. If an incorrect rotor is installed, dealers will install
a new rotor and replace both front brake pads.
Copyright 2014 General Motors. All Rights Reserved.

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Bulletin No.: 14128A

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 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.
Important: It is estimated that 20-50 involved vehicles worldwide will require rotor
replacement. Please order parts accordingly.
Part Number

Description

23118530

Front Rotor

20963796

Front Brake Pads (set)

Quantity/Vehicle
1 or 2
(if req'd)
1
(if rotor replaced)

SERVICE PROCEDURE
Inspection Procedure
1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in SI.
2. Remove both front tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and
Installation in SI

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Bulletin No.: 14128A

3822952

3. Using calipers, or a ruler, measure the thickness of both front rotors.
 If the rotor measures 30.1 mm thick, the vehicle has the correct rotor and no further
action is required. Reinstall the front tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel
Removal and Installation in SI.
 If either rotor measures 23.1 mm thick, the rotor is the incorrect size and will need
replacement. Proceed to the Replacement Procedure below.
Replacement Procedure
1. Remove the front brake rotor(s) from either/both affected sides. Refer to Front Brake
Rotor Replacement in SI.
2. Remove the front brake pads from both sides.
3. Install new front brake pads to both sides.
4. Install a new front brake rotor to either/both affected sides. Refer to Front Brake Rotor
Replacement in SI.
FLOOR PLAN REIMBURSEMENT
Dealers in possession of vehicles 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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Bulletin No.: 14128A

WARRANTY TRANSACTION INFORMATION
Submit a transaction using the table below. All transactions should be submitted as a ZFAT
transaction type, unless noted otherwise.
Note: To avoid having to "H" route the floor plan reimbursement transaction for approval, it must
be submitted prior to the repair transaction.
Labor
Code
9100528
9100529

9100540
*

Description
Inspect Front Brake Rotors
Inspect & Replace One Front Brake Rotor & Both Brake
Pads

Labor
Time
0.3
1.0

Add: Replace Both Front Brake Rotors

0.1

Floor Plan Reimbursement

N/A

Net
Item
N/A
N/A

*

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 (May 1, 2014) to the date the repair is
completed and the vehicle is ready for sale (not to exceed 9 days):
Vehicle

US
Reimbursement Amount

Canadian
Reimbursement Amount

Buick LaCrosse

$5.24

$ 6.19

Chevrolet Malibu

$3.36

$5.05

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION – For US and Canada
General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle see copy of customer letter
included with this bulletin).
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. For owners outside these areas, dealers should notify
customers using the attached sample letter.
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

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Bulletin No.: 14128A

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.
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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Bulletin No.: 14128A

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL
June 2014
Dear General Motors Customer:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some
2014 model year Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Malibu vehicles equipped with a 17 inch front
brake assembly. 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





This notice applies to your 2014 model year Buick Lacrosse or
Chevrolet Malibu vehicle equipped with a 17 inch front brake assembly,
VIN _________________________________________.
Your vehicle is involved in GM safety recall 14128.
Schedule an appointment with your GM dealer.
This service will be performed for you at no charge.

Why is your
vehicle being
recalled?

The front brake assembly may have been built with the rear brake
rotor, which by design, is 7 mm thinner than the front rotor. On new
vehicles, brake performance is not initially affected. However,
higher heat will be generated by the thinner rear brake rotor and this
will significantly shorten the brake pad life. As the pads and rotor
wear, the outer brake pad will become disengaged from the caliper
bracket, and the diagonal corners of the brake system will lose
hydraulic integrity. This will result in reduced brake system
performance and illuminate the brake warning light. Additional
brake application will result in loss of braking. Reduced
performance or loss of brakes will increase the risk of a crash.

What will we
do?

Your GM dealer will inspect both front brake rotors. If an incorrect
rotor is installed, your dealer will install a new rotor and replace both
front brake pads. 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 inspection time of
approximately 20 minutes. If repairs are required, an additional 50
minutes will be needed.

What should
you do?

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

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June 2014

Bulletin No.: 14128A

If the brake warning light illuminates while driving, stop driving
the vehicle and have the vehicle towed for service.
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.
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

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 14V240.
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 #14128