Owner Letter

April, 1997

Dear Chevrolet Geo Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Reason For This Recall:

General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1997 Chevrolet Geo Prizm model vehicles. These vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the air bag control module can be affected by a severe mechanical shock. Such mechanical shock can be caused, for example, by rapid sliding of the front seat or a sudden release of the parking brake. To affect the air bag control module, this shock must occur within a very short time period just after the engine is started (ignition key in ON or ACC). If all these conditions are present, the airbags may deploy inadvertently. In the worst case, a front seat occupant who is close to an airbag could be seriously injured. After the initial SRS ("AIR BAG") warning light goes off, this condition will not occur.

What Will Be Done:

To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring, dealers are to replace the air bag control module. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

How Long Will The Repair Take?

The length of time required to perform this service correction is approximately 35 minutes. Additional time may be required to schedule and process your vehicle. If your dealer has a large number of vehicles awaiting service, this additional time may be significant. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed.

Contacting Your Dealer:

Please contact your dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Parts are available and instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much time will be needed to schedule, process and repair your vehicle. Your Chevrolet Geo dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide service to correct your vehicle as promptly as possible. Should your dealer be unable to schedule a service date within a reasonable time, you should contact the Chevrolet Geo Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-1020. Deaf, hearing impaired or speech impaired call 1-800-833-2438 (Utilizes Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf/Text Telephones TDD/TTY).

If, after contacting the Chevrolet Geo Customer Assistance Center, you are still not satisfied that 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, 400 Seventh Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590 or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington D.C. residents use 202-366-0123).

Customer Reply Card:

The enclosed customer reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction in the shortest possible time. If you no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by completing the postage paid reply card and returning it to us.

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.