The safety crisis at General Motors continued today with the announcement of six more serious GM recalls for defects covering a quarter of a million vehicles. This follows the revelation this week that almost 190,000 GM vehicles will have to be parked outside because they can self-immolate. The catch here is that redesigned power window switches that can prevent fires will not be available until October. (See More GM Recalls on 717,950 Newer Vehicles)
Affected in the expanded fire recall are 2006-2007 model Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Isuzu Ascender and Saab 97-X. The recall is an expansion of one that that was part of six announced GM recalls on 30 June that covered 7.6 million vehicles.
The most numerous model in the latest recall announced today, Friday, covers 202,115 Saturn Vue 2002-2004 models because the ignition key can “possibly” be removed from the ignition switch when the vehicle is not in the ‘off’ position. GM claims it is aware of two crashes and one injury “potentially related” to the ignition switch defect. Dealers will inspect for key pullout or key binding and if necessary replace the ignition cylinder and keys at no charge to customers as is required by US law.
GM told owners “Until recall repairs have been performed, it is very important before exiting the vehicle for customers to make sure the vehicle is in Park or in the case of a manual transmission to put the transmission into reverse gear and set the parking brake.”
Then there are 48,059 model 2013 Cadillac ATS four-door sedans and 2013 Buick Encore vehicles in the US where the front-lapbelt pretensioner cables will retract upon deployment to pull in safety belt webbing but may not lock. This allows the retracted webbing to return to its original length under – thereby defeating the increased safety a working system provides.
GM in its usual legalese said, “There may be a potential of increased occupant movement in certain accidents.” Dealers will replace both front outboard lap belt pretensioners. GM is not aware of any crashes or injuries because of this safety defect that was discovered during frontal crash testing. Whether it was GM or NHTSA that was conducting the tests was not immediately clear. A stop sale is in effect for unsold models at dealerships until repairs have been made as is required by US safety regulations.
The front console storage compartment can fling open in a rear crash on 14,940 model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala because the inertia latch on the compartment door may not engage. Dealers will replace door inertia latch. Because this violates a federal motor vehicle safety standard, GM has ordered (it has no choice) dealers to hold unsold models of these vehicles until the repair can be made. GM said it knows of no crashes or injuries related to this condition.
Brakes can fail on 1,968 model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Aveo and 2009 model year Pontiac G3 vehicles, but GM originally in 2012 tried to handle the defect with a service bulletin. Under increased scrutiny from NHTSA, among other agencies, it is now safety recall. GM claims it knows of no crashes or injuries associated with the condition.
On 1,919 model year 2014 Chevrolet Spark models, the left and right lower control arm attaching bolts that may come loose. GM told owners to have their vehicles transported to Chevrolet dealerships, where they will be inspect the attaching bolts to be sure they are tightened to specification. GM knows of no crashes or injuries related to this issue.
