MASSIVE SEAT BELT RECALL : Dealers Brace for Crunch of Belt Repairs : Autos: Many are ‘gearing up and getting ready’ by hiring more workers. Some say it will be a boon for business.
Auto dealerships across Southern California on Tuesday prepared to hire more workers while fielding calls from worried consumers, as news spread that nine auto makers had announced a massive recall of faulty seat belts.
Dealers said the prospect of making repairs on thousands of vehicles carries the promise of logistic headaches as well as surging sales in their repair business--typically a major moneymaker.
“For the dealers, it’s good for business,” said John Scillitani, service director at Universal City Nissan.
At Kolbe Honda in Reseda, service manager Randy Gauvin said he decided to hire two more mechanics and one service representative just to handle the expected crunch of repairs.
“We’re gearing up and getting ready,” said Gauvin, who has already placed a classified ad looking for the new workers.
As the day wore on, calls continued to pour in, said service managers at area dealerships. They predicted that the volume will probably soar in upcoming days as news of the recall reaches more customers.
Norm Reeves Honda in Cerritos, which claims to be the nation’s largest Honda dealership, fielded more than 100 calls from fretting customers Tuesday, company officials said.
Scillitani said the recall could ultimately bring 5,000 customers into his Nissan dealership for repair work. Many are bound to take advantage of their visits by requesting oil changes, tuneups or other work, he said.
Gary Anderson, service manager at Norm Reeves Honda, said his dealership expects recall repairs “to number in the thousands.” Each repair could take about an hour, he said, and Honda will have to pay his crew of mechanics the same rate he charges everyday customers: $52 an hour.
Anderson also said dealerships commonly keep a 30% markup on the cost of replacement parts. Depending on the extent of the repair work required, replacement seat-belt parts could cost anywhere from $50 to a few hundred dollars.
“It’s kind of hard to [capitalize] on somebody else’s misfortune,” Anderson said. “But this is going to benefit dealers all over.”
At the same time, Anderson and other service managers acknowledged that they are now in the awkward position of knowing little more about the recall procedure than the customers who are calling for help.
“What we’re telling people is that they’ll be getting notification from Honda,” Anderson said. “But if they feel they have a problem right now, bring it in and we’ll inspect it and replace it if we need to.”
Service managers at several dealerships said seat-belt repairs are so uncommon that they do not have replacement parts in stock, and that given the magnitude of the recall, it could be months before enough parts in the right colors and designs are ready. Takata Corp., the Japanese manufacturer of the faulty seat belts, “can’t produce 8 million of them overnight,” one service manager said.
That means many customers whose belts are not currently malfunctioning will probably have to wait months for repairs. In the meantime, service managers said manufacturers will have to answer a number of questions, including how repair work is to be rationed until enough parts are available, and whether customers will be reimbursed for rentals while work is being done.
“If dealerships are swamped with 8 million cars, it will be a nightmare,” said Dennis Kramer, service manager at Mazda of North Hollywood. “People will get irritated.”
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Times staff writer Alan Abrahamson contributed to this report.
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What Went Wrong
Transportation officials say the belts can fail because internal parts give out. Here’s why: 1. The sun’s ultraviolet rays strike latch mechanism, 2. Plastic becomes brittle and breaks and can jam lock mechanism. 3. Metal latch does not lock or comes loose prematurely.
SUBJECT TO RECALL
The makes and some models of automakers with Takata Inc. seat belts made from 1986 through 1991 and subject to recall. (Not all models listed.) Check with local dealers about particular models (such as three- or five-door or both) to see if other years have been ruled out.
HONDA 1986-1991 Civic 1986-1987, 1989-1991 Civic CRX 1986-1990 Acura Legend 1986-1991 Acura Integra 1991 Acura NSX Coupe 1986-1991 Accord 1986-1991 Prelude
NISSAN 1990-1991 Infiniti Q45, M30 1987-1988 Nissan 200SX 1989-1991 Nissan 240SX 1988-1991 Pathfinder 1988-1991 Pickup D21 1987-1988, 1990 Van (C22) 1987-1991 Sentra
CHRYSLER 1986-1989 Conquest 1986-1991 Colt, 1988-1990 wagon 1989-1991 Summit 1990-1991 Laser/Talon 1991 Stealth 1987-1989 Raider 1986-1991 Ram/Ram 50
MITSUBISHI 1986-1989 Starion 1986-1988 Cordia 1986-1987, 1989 Galant 1988-1990 Sigma 1986-1991 Mirage 1990-1991 Eclipse 1991 3000GT 1986-1991 Montero 1987-1990 van/wagon 1986-1991 pickup
GENERAL MOTORS 1990-1991 Geo Storm 1989-1991 Geo Tracker 1989-1991 Geo Metro
MAZDA 1988-1989 323 and 323 wagon 1988-1989 MX-6 1988-1991 929 1989-1991 MPV minivan
SUZUKI 1989-1991 Swift 1988-1991 Samurai 1989-1991 Sidekick
SUBARU 1987-1991 Justy 1988-1990 Loyale
ISUZU 1990-1991 Impulse 1990-1991 Pickup 1991 Rodeo 1991 Stylus
Not participating in the recall at this time:
DAIHATSU 1990-1991 Rocky
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Researched by JENNIFER OLDHAM / Los Angeles Times
