CHEVROLET EXPRESS 2014: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 14V117000

Production Dates: 2013-04-18 - 2014-03-07

Manufacturers Involved: General Motors, LLC

Manufacturer Campaign Number: 14082

Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Potential Number Of Units Affected: 303013

Report Initiator: MFR MFR Report

Regulation Part Number: 571

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number: 201

General Motors LLC "GM" is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans manufactured January 27, 2009, through March 7, 2014 with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds and less and equipped with front passenger air bags. In the affected vehicles, during a frontal impact below the air bag deployment threshold, if an unbelted front passenger's head hits the instrument panel above where the passenger air bag is located, the panel may not sufficiently absorb the impact. As such, these vehicles fail to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."

In the event of a crash below the air bag deployment threshold, an unbelted front passenger seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will modify the passenger instrument panel free of charge. Notices to the owners of the heavy duty vans were mailed on April 28, 2014. The recall began on May 19, 2014. Chevrolet owners may call 1-800-630-2438. GMC owners may call 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14082.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 'TTY 1-800-424-9153', or go to www.safercar.gov.