2003 Pontiac Vibe

Issue: 
Certain cars that were repaired under a previous airbag recall may have had an incorrect passenger-front airbag installed. As a result, the airbag may not unfold properly when it deploys. This could cause the airbag to tear or not to inflate properly in a crash.

Safety Risk: 
An airbag that does not work properly could create an increased risk of injury in a crash. 

Corrective Actions: 
General Motors will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to inspect the passenger-front airbag assembly. It will be replaced if necessary.

On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, could eventually degrade the propellant contained in the passenger frontal airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. As a result, if the vehicle were involved in a collision that warrants airbag deployment, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants, and the airbag assembly could be damaged, preventing proper function. These issues could increase the risk of injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag module.<br><br>

Note: Canadian climate results in the propellant degrading slowly. The recall is being conducted as a precaution to address future risk, and is expected to replace airbag inflators before their function would be affected. Vehicles may have had the original front passenger airbag module replaced as a "like-for-like" replacement under recall 2015-272 (GM Recall #14491) as a temporary remedy while evaluating a permanent remedy. These vehicles will receive the permanent remedy passenger airbag assembly under this recall.

On certain vehicles, the passenger (frontal) airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inflator to rupture, which could allow fragments to be propelled toward vehicle occupants, increasing the risk of injury. This could also damage the airbag module, which could prevent proper deployment. Failure of the passenger airbag to fully deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 2013-116, 2014-301 and 2015-272.  Correction: Dealers are to replace the front passenger airbag assembly with one equipped with a newly specified inflator.

On certain vehicles, the passenger (frontal) airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inflator to rupture, which could allow fragments to be propelled toward vehicle occupants, increasing the risk of injury. This could also damage the airbag module, which could prevent proper deployment. Failure of the passenger airbag to fully deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant.  Note: This recall is superseded by recall 2016106. Please see recall 2016106 for more information.  

<a href="http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/detail.aspx?lang=eng&&rn=2016106">Click here for more information</a>

On certain vehicles, a defect in the supplemental restraint system could result in an inadvertent deployment of the front airbag(s) and/or seatbelt pretensioner(s). Unintended seatbelt pretensioner and/or airbag deployment, in a non-warranted (non-impact) situation, could startle the driver, which could result in a vehicle crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. In some instances, inadvertent deployment could cause minor injuries to vehicle occupants. Correction: Dealers will replace the airbag control module and may install an in-line jumper wiring harness to correct the issue.  Note: This recall supersedes recall 2013033.  Vehicles that were repaired under the previous campaign and did not receive a new airbag control module will also need to be repaired under this campaign.