GM today issued a safety recall (NHTSA ID 21V-189) for fires occurring in 2020 and 2021 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles with 6.6L gas engines. If a battery short circuit occur, drivers may get a low battery voltage warning, the battery may die, or a fire may occur in the engine compartment. NHTSA immediately issued a critical Recall Safety Alert given the grave nature of this safety defect. NHTSA said, “Until these recalled vehicles have been repaired, the safest place to park them is outside and away from homes and other structures.”
Chronology
- Way back on December 7, 2020, a GM employee submitted an issue to GM’s Speak Up For Safety program following discovery of a dead battery in a 2021 Chevrolet Express at GM’s Wentzville Assembly plant. On December 7, 2020, a short-term containment was implemented at Wentzville Assembly and Springfield-Navistar Assembly.
- December 9, 2020, it was determined that the clearance between the positive battery cables and the engine compartment fuse block assembly attachments could allow contact in some circumstances, causing batteries to drain. On
- December 23, 2020, service bulletin #20-NA-225 was issued which directed technicians to trim back anti-rotation tabs on positive battery cables for 2021 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles experiencing low battery charge after sitting a short period of time.
- January 21, 2021, GM’s Field Service Engineering group was notified of an underhood battery fire on a 2021 Chevrolet Express. Review of dealer-provided photographs suggested that the fire originated at the positive battery cable attachment near the fuse.
- January 26, 2021, GM opened an investigation on the battery cable-to-fuse clearance on.
- February 2021, GM’s investigator researched two warranty claims from December 21, 2020 and January 8, 2021 involving underhood fires in 2021 Chevrolet Express vehicles. In both cases, the engine compartment fuse block assembly had to be replaced.
- March 1, 2021, GM became aware of a fourth fire; this one on a 2021 GMC Savana. Dealer-provided photographs support the conclusion that fire originated at the positive battery cable attachment near the fuse.
- March 11, 2021, GM’s Safety and Field Action Decision Authority decided to conduct a safety recall. GM is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with this condition.
Dealers will remove a portion of the anti-rotation tab on both positive battery cable terminals near the engine compartment fuse block assembly attachments. All covered vehicles are under warranty, so reimbursement is not offered.
NHTSA urges all consumers to report any safety concerns online or by calling our Vehicle Safety Hotline (Toll-Free: 1-888-327-4236 / Hearing Impaired (TTY): 1-800-424-9153). Vehicle owners can visit NHTSA.gov/recalls and enter their 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if their vehicle is under recall. If it is, vehicle owners should call their nearest dealership immediately to schedule a Free interim repair.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
2020-21 GMC Savana, Chevrolet Express Recalled for Fire Risk
GM today issued a safety recall (NHTSA ID 21V-189) for fires occurring in 2020 and 2021 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles with 6.6L gas engines. If a battery short circuit occur, drivers may get a low battery voltage warning, the battery may die, or a fire may occur in the engine compartment. NHTSA immediately issued a critical Recall Safety Alert given the grave nature of this safety defect. NHTSA said, “Until these recalled vehicles have been repaired, the safest place to park them is outside and away from homes and other structures.”
Chronology
Dealers will remove a portion of the anti-rotation tab on both positive battery cable terminals near the engine compartment fuse block assembly attachments. All covered vehicles are under warranty, so reimbursement is not offered.
NHTSA urges all consumers to report any safety concerns online or by calling our Vehicle Safety Hotline (Toll-Free: 1-888-327-4236 / Hearing Impaired (TTY): 1-800-424-9153). Vehicle owners can visit NHTSA.gov/recalls and enter their 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if their vehicle is under recall. If it is, vehicle owners should call their nearest dealership immediately to schedule a Free interim repair.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.