Using the oft-neglected parking brake sometimes helps prevent accidents caused by a bad indicator.
GM in its latest safety defect recall has told NHTSA (The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ) that its previously announced April recall of 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles is now being expanded to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 1,131,113.
This latest GM recall – and by no means the last coming this year – is another reputational hit arising from a safety defect and cover-up fiasco that came to light with the its ignition switch recall that was made public in February of 2104. Thus far, GM sales have not been measurably affected. Nor have used car values.
In the latest screw-up, the transmission shift-cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, then the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an “unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash.”
When the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the ‘PARK’ position, the transmission may not be in ‘PARK.’ If the vehicle is not in the PARK position, therefore there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
See:
- While Under NHTSA Investigation, Three New GM Recalls
- NHTSA Fines GM a Paltry $35 Million for Ignition Switch Fiasco
- GM Recalls another 2.4 Million Vehicles for Safety Defects
