Holden Announces Biggest Ever Recall: 123,719 VY, VY2, V2, VZ, WK & WL

[JoeT]

Holden VY, VY2, V2, VZ, WK & WL Variant Vehicles

Product Recalls Australia
10 March 2006
www.recalls.gov.au

Supplier Name: GM Holden Ltd

Product Make: Holden

Product Model: VY, VY2, V2, VZ, WK & WL

Target Number: 89167

Model Years From: 2003 - 2005

Campaign Number: 06-H-02

Product Info: Built between 1 April 2003 and 2 December 2005

Defect Details: A condition can occur on vehicles fitted with side airbags, where an electrical earth wire that is fitted underneath either front seat may become detached. Without this eathing, an electrostatic charge may transfer through the seat to the airbag inflator. This may result in an unintentional deployment of the side airbag when the car is stationary and whilst the occupant is exiting one of the front seats.

Consumer action: Contact your local dealer. Owners will be contacted directly by mail.

Market Coverage: National

Recall Coverage: National



GM Holden Safety Recall

GM Media
14 March 2006
www.media.gm.com

GM Holden has issued a safety recall on specific locally built vehicles from April 2003 to December 2005 sold in Australia and export markets and fitted with side impact airbags as standard or optional equipment.

The recall has been issued following reports to GM Holden that side impact airbags had inflated under circumstances which did not warrant inflation. This may be caused by static electricity charge, generated in particular conditions, which stimulates the airbag inflator if an earthing wire under the seat has come loose.

Such conditions can be generated only when the car is stationary and the person is exiting or has exited one of the front seats, as sufficient charge must be generated and the outer side seat bolster compressed to reach the side airbag inflator.

The situation will be rectified free of charge at Holden dealerships by installing an additional earth spring at the front of each height adjustable seat to correctly earth any charge.

The recall involves 89,167 vehicles in Australia and 34,552 export vehicles for a total of 123,719. Thirteen cases have been reported since 2003 with no resultant accidents - an incident rate close to one in 10,000 vehicles or about 0.01 per cent.

GM Holden Executive Director Engineering, Tony Hyde, today said the organisation had confirmed that the inflation would occur only while the car was stationary, allaying concerns about possible accidents.

“Electrostatic charge accumulation usually requires some sort of moving activity which is generated while swinging out of a seat,” Mr Hyde said. This action also brings the occupant closer to the side impact airbags as the backrest side bolster is compressed when getting out of the seat. The bolster will not be sufficiently compressed while driving to allow any charge to reach the inflator.”

Vehicles impacted by the recall comprise those built between 1 April 2003 and 2 December 2005 with side impact airbags as standard or optional equipment. This may include -

Sedan - VY / VY Series 2 / VZ Executive, Equipe, Lumina, Acclaim, S, SV6, SV8, SS, Berlina, Calais, (including HSV variants).

Wagon - VY / VY Series 2 / VZ Executive, Equipe, Lumina, Acclaim, SS, Berlina, Adventra, (including HSV variants)

Light Commercial - VY / VY Series 2 Crewman, Crewman S, Crewman SS, X6 Crewman, X8 Crewman, (including HSV variants).

V2 - Series 2 / V2 Series 3 / VZ Monaro, (including HSV variants).

WK / WL - Statesman, Caprice (including HSV variants)

Related export programs include the Middle East, China, Korea, Brazil, South Africa, New Zealand and United Kingdom. National public advertisements alerting owners of the safety recall were placed to appear today, Tuesday 14 March 2006. Customer letters will also be sent.

Any Holden owner with concerns about the recall should call Holden Recall and Rework Assistance Centre on 1800 632 826 or the service department of any Holden dealership.

[jbernie]

Not what we want to see as the VE release approaches. Any word on how many times the "unintentional" deployment has occured? or if Holden has been needing to reimburse someone for a change of clothes? Cos an airbag deploying like that would scare the ..... our of you

While there you can also enjoy the Lamborghini Gallardo recall:

http://www.recalls.gov.au/view_recal..._ID_Auto=13963

Defect Details: The bolted connections on the double wishbones may come loose over time or under extreme loading.

[JoeT]

GM Holden hasn't released it's own press statement on this issue yet. I'm sure they will on Monday.

This could affect international Holden product owners too. (Pontiac GTO, Chevrolet Caprice & Lumina, Vauxhall Monaro & such)

I'm one of the owners affected - V2 Monaro CV8. My old '98 SS was recalled in 2001.

Every brand has quality problems, even Lamborghini & Porsche, so I'm not that upset.

[SilverTAWS6]

Originally Posted by JoeT

GM Holden hasn't released it's own press statement on this issue yet. I'm sure they will on Monday.

This could affect international Holden product owners too. (Pontiac GTO, Chevrolet Caprice & Lumina, Vauxhall Monaro & such)

I'm one of the owners affected - V2 Monaro CV8. My old '98 SS was recalled aswell.

Every brand has quality problems, even Lamborghini & Porsche, so I'm not that upset.

Pontiac GTO does not come with side air bags so it would be exempt.

Chris

[JoeT]

Holden Recalls 123,719 Cars

Marton Pettendy
14 March 2006
www.goauto.com.au

Holden today announced one of the most extensive safety recalls in its history following 13 reported cases of unexpected side airbag deployment in its locally-built vehicles since 2003.

The recall effects some 123,719 Commodore, Monaro, Crewman, Statesman and HSV models fitted with side airbags and built between April 2003 and December 2005 - including 89,167 vehicles in Australia and 34,552 export cars.

In a statement issued today, GM Holden said the recall followed reports that side impact airbags had inflated under circumstances which did not warrant inflation.

"This may be caused by static electricity charge, generated in particular conditions, which stimulates the airbag inflator if an earthing wire under the seat has come loose.

"Such conditions can be generated only when the car is stationary and the person is exiting or has exited one of the front seats, as sufficient charge must be generated and the outer side seat bolster compressed to reach the side airbag inflator."

Holden said the problem would be rectified free of charge by its dealerships by installing an additional earth spring at the front of each height-adjustable seat.

The company maintains the 13 reported cases of inadvertent side airbag inflation did not result in accidents and that the reported incident rate amounts to one in 10,000, or about 0.01 per cent.

GM Holden executive director engineering Tony Hyde was adamant inflation could not occur while the vehicle was in motion.

"Electrostatic charge accumulation usually requires some sort of moving activity which is generated while swinging out of a seat.

"This action also brings the occupant closer to the side impact airbags as the backrest side bolster is compressed when getting out of the seat. The bolster will not be sufficiently compressed while driving to allow any charge to reach the inflator," he said.

Holden said owners of vehicles built between April 1, 2003 and December 2, 2005 and fitted with either standard or optional side airbags should contact the service department of any Holden dealership, or call the Holden Recall and Rework Assistance Centre on 1800 632 826.

Public advertisements alerting owners of the safety recall appeared nationally today and letters will be sent to customers directly, including to owners of vehicles in New Zealand, the UK, Middle East, China, Korea, Brazil and South Africa.


GM Holden says the following vehicles may be affected:

- All VY and VYII sedans
- VZ Executive, Equipe, Lumina, Acclaim, S, SV6, SV8, SS, Berlina and Calais (including HSV variants)
- All VY and VYII wagons
- VZ Executive, Equipe, Lumina, Acclaim, SS, Berlina and Adventra (including HSV variants)
- VY and VYII Crewman, Crewman S, Crewman SS, X6 Crewman, X8 Crewman (including HSV variants)
- V2II, V2III and VZ Monaro (including HSV variants)
- WK/WL Statesman and Caprice (including HSV variants)



Holden Recalls 120,000 Commodores

Drive Staff
14 March 2006
www.drive.com.au

Faulty airbags have sparked one of Holden’s biggest recalls.

- Affects Commodores, Monaros, Statesmans, Crewmans and Adventras built between April 2003 and December 2005.

- Side airbags can inflate due to a build up of static electricity.

- Owners of 123,719 vehicles are being asked to return their cars to dealers for repairs.

Holden today announced one of its biggest recalls ever to fix faulty airbags in Commodores, Statesmans and Monaros.

The recall involves 123,719 cars built between April 2003 and December 2005 and includes VY, VY Series 2 and VZ models fitted with side airbags, which inflate from the side bolsters of the front seats.

As well as the Commodore sedan and wagon, the massive recall affects other locally-produced Holdens such as the Monaro coupe, Statesman/Caprice luxury sedans, Crewman utes, Adventra off-road wagon and various HSV variants.

Of the 123,719 vehicles being recalled, 89,167 were sold locally and 34,552 sold in the Middle East, China, Korea, Brazil, South Africa and New Zealand.

The recall was announced after 13 incidences of side airbags inflating when they shouldn't have due to static electricity.

The airbags only inflated incorrectly when the car is stopped.

A carefully worded statement points out that the rate of unwarranted airbag deployment is "close to one in 10,000" and has not resulted in any crashes.

The statement emphasises: "Such conditions can be generated only when the car is stationary and the person is exiting or has exited one of the front seats, as sufficient (static electrical) charge must be generated by the outer side seat bolster compressed to reach the side airbag inflator."

This latest recall is the second time Holden's large car has been recalled due to airbags inflating when they shouldn't.

Owners are being asked to return their cars to a Holden dealer for repairs, which the company says should take "a matter of minutes".

"There are two small springs - one spring per (front) seat - that need to be hooked in under each seat, which provides the earthing connection to ensure the static electricity isn't an issue," says Holden spokesman Jason Laird.

Laird is not expecting the embarrassment and size of a major safety recall to effect sales of the Commodore and its derivatives.

"It's a reflection of the number of cars we sell in the market, and as a brand we're not disproportionately represented," he says. "In one sense it demonstrates the commitment we have to customer safety. We've proven over the years ... that when there are any concerns we'll act on it."

Recalls are commonplace in the 21st century as manufacturers look to react quickly to fix safety concerns.

While Holden's is by far the biggest recall so far this year, it is one of many that affect brands as diverse as Suzuki, Subaru, Mercedes-Benz and Audi.

The recall comes at a trying time for the local car industry.

Rising fuel prices and an increase in the popularity of four-wheel-drives has seen sales of the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore at their lowest levels in 12 years, while the relatively new Mitsubishi 380 has got off to a disastrous start in terms of sales, selling half of the estimated 2500 cars per month required for long term viability.

Holden recall: the cars affected

Build dates: From April 2003 to December 2005

- Commodore Executive, Equipe, Lumina, Acclaim, S, SV6, SV8, SS, Berlina, Calais, Adventra (including HSV models and wagons)

- Crewman, Crewman S, Crewman SS, Crewman Cross6, Crewman Cross8

- Monaro (including HSV models)

- Statesman, Caprice (including HSV models)