The acronym SUB stands for Service Update Bulletin. A SUB represents a unique type of product field action that General Motors can use to remedy specific vehicle concerns. Release of a SUB means that GM has identified a potential vehicle system or component concern and is trying to minimize its impact on customers. A SUB instructs dealers to correct all involved vehicles currently in their inventory as soon as possible, whether or not the vehicle is exhibiting the concern. The required correction must be performed before vehicle sale and delivery or customer test drive. Your dealership must have 100% of the involved inventory vehicles completed within 30 days of SUB release.
A SUB can be released in one of two ways. The first is Inventory Only as described above and the second is Inventory and Customer Vehicles which, along with the completion of all involved inventory vehicles, authorizes dealers to correct any involved customer vehicles that return to the dealership for service whether or not the vehicle is exhibiting the concern, provided its base warranty has not expired.
When a SUB is released, involved dealers in the U.S. are notified by a GM Administrative Message which is posted on DealerWorld through the GlobalConnect portal. In Canada, a Dealer Communication message is sent to involved dealers by email. These messages are addressed to dealership management and should be printed and distributed immediately. Attached to the message is a copy of the subject bulletin and instructions for accessing a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) listing of each dealer's involved vehicles in dealer inventory.
Once the VIN list is obtained, dealers should take immediate action to ensure the required correction is performed as soon as possible on all involved vehicles in their inventory, including vehicles being dealer traded or spot delivered. If an involved vehicle has been dealer traded, the receiving dealer should be contacted immediately regarding the new SUB. If an involved vehicle has been sold and delivered to a customer, no further action
is required and the customer should not be contacted. In fact, dealers are prohibited
from contacting involved customers for the express purpose of performing SUB corrections. Such vehicles can be corrected only if they return to the dealership for any type of service and the base warranty has not expired.
The GM Vehicle Inquiry System (GMVIS) can be used easily to check the current status
of any vehicle in dealer inventory or on the service drive that may be involved in a SUB.
SUBs are displayed in the Required Field Actions section of GMVIS as a YT type with a corresponding identification number and a short description. The status field will show either Open or Closed. Dealers should perform the required correction only if the status is Open and the involved vehicle's base warranty has not expired. Dealers should always check GMVIS for any open SUBs or other product field actions before vehicle service, sale, delivery or customer test drive.
In addition to the positive influence they can have on customer satisfaction, SUBs are relatively easy opportunities for dealers to generate additional service revenue because the related expense is not part of the calculation used to determine a dealer's cost per vehicle serviced. This means dealers are fully empowered to complete all of the involved vehicles as quickly as possible without concern for GM Regional Office or District Service Manager restrictions. To help dealers reach the 100% SUB completion objective for inventory vehicles, a SUB Information link is also available in GM DealerWorld (U.S. only). Using their Business Associate Code (BAC), this link provides each dealer with the most current list of vehicles involved in a SUB that are still open and assigned to their dealership. This list is updated twice a week in conjunction with warranty claims processing. Dealers are strongly encouraged to check this site on a regular basis to ensure that all involved vehicles are corrected as soon as possible. This feature is at present available only to U.S. dealers.
Remember that a great technician always checks GMVIS for any outstanding SUBs or other product field actions every time he/she services a vehicle. Again, our goal is to ensure that all required SUB corrections or other product field actions are completed before a customer can have an unsatisfactory experience with a GM product.
- Thanks to Loren Rusk
A SUB can be released in one of two ways. The first is Inventory Only as described above and the second is Inventory and Customer Vehicles which, along with the completion of all involved inventory vehicles, authorizes dealers to correct any involved customer vehicles that return to the dealership for service whether or not the vehicle is exhibiting the concern, provided its base warranty has not expired.
When a SUB is released, involved dealers in the U.S. are notified by a GM Administrative Message which is posted on DealerWorld through the GlobalConnect portal. In Canada, a Dealer Communication message is sent to involved dealers by email. These messages are addressed to dealership management and should be printed and distributed immediately. Attached to the message is a copy of the subject bulletin and instructions for accessing a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) listing of each dealer's involved vehicles in dealer inventory.
Once the VIN list is obtained, dealers should take immediate action to ensure the required correction is performed as soon as possible on all involved vehicles in their inventory, including vehicles being dealer traded or spot delivered. If an involved vehicle has been dealer traded, the receiving dealer should be contacted immediately regarding the new SUB. If an involved vehicle has been sold and delivered to a customer, no further action
is required and the customer should not be contacted. In fact, dealers are prohibited
from contacting involved customers for the express purpose of performing SUB corrections. Such vehicles can be corrected only if they return to the dealership for any type of service and the base warranty has not expired.
The GM Vehicle Inquiry System (GMVIS) can be used easily to check the current status
of any vehicle in dealer inventory or on the service drive that may be involved in a SUB.
SUBs are displayed in the Required Field Actions section of GMVIS as a YT type with a corresponding identification number and a short description. The status field will show either Open or Closed. Dealers should perform the required correction only if the status is Open and the involved vehicle's base warranty has not expired. Dealers should always check GMVIS for any open SUBs or other product field actions before vehicle service, sale, delivery or customer test drive.
In addition to the positive influence they can have on customer satisfaction, SUBs are relatively easy opportunities for dealers to generate additional service revenue because the related expense is not part of the calculation used to determine a dealer's cost per vehicle serviced. This means dealers are fully empowered to complete all of the involved vehicles as quickly as possible without concern for GM Regional Office or District Service Manager restrictions. To help dealers reach the 100% SUB completion objective for inventory vehicles, a SUB Information link is also available in GM DealerWorld (U.S. only). Using their Business Associate Code (BAC), this link provides each dealer with the most current list of vehicles involved in a SUB that are still open and assigned to their dealership. This list is updated twice a week in conjunction with warranty claims processing. Dealers are strongly encouraged to check this site on a regular basis to ensure that all involved vehicles are corrected as soon as possible. This feature is at present available only to U.S. dealers.
Remember that a great technician always checks GMVIS for any outstanding SUBs or other product field actions every time he/she services a vehicle. Again, our goal is to ensure that all required SUB corrections or other product field actions are completed before a customer can have an unsatisfactory experience with a GM product.
- Thanks to Loren Rusk
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