NEWS:   Impala owners sue GM over alleged defect causing tires to wear out

DETROIT NEWS -- July 5, 2011 – A class-action suit has been filed against General Motors Co., complaining that GM fixed rear-end problems on police versions of 2007-08 Impalas, but not those owned by some 400,000 other drivers.

The problem, according to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Detroit, causes owners to burn through rear tires.

The suit was brought on behalf of a Pennsylvania woman and wants GM to replace potentially faulty rear suspension rods. The Detroit-based automaker sold 423,000 Impalas over the two-year period.

The suit — if successful — could cost GM millions of dollars in replaced tires and parts. It's the latest challenge by owners to automakers who limit the scope of auto recalls or service campaigns. It's also sparked dozens of angry complaints from owners.

Americans spend about $20 billion annually on about 200 million replacement tires, according to a 2006 government report. Alignments and other related issues add billions in annual repair costs to the nation's more than 250 million vehicles on the roads.

The only owner currently named in the suit, ..., of Blakely, Pa., bought a new Chevrolet Impala in February 2008 and said the tires wore out within 6,000 miles. The GM dealer replaced the tires and provided an alignment, but didn't disclose the spindle rod issue, the owner said. According to the suit, GM issued a service bulletin in 2008 for police versions of the Impala.

Last November, the owner couldn't pass an annual inspection without getting another set of rear tires — even though the vehicle had fewer than 25,000 miles.

"Despite having knowledge of this premature wear problem, (GM) has not recalled the subject cars, which has required class members to pay the cost of fixing the defective spindle rods as well as for replacement tires and realignment," alleges the lawsuit, filed last week.

In its July 2008 bulletin, GM told its dealers to replace the rods, align the rear wheels and, if necessary, replace the rear tires. Police agencies that had replaced rear tires themselves could seek reimbursement for a year.

GM spokesman ..declined to comment on the suit because the automaker hadn't reviewed it. GM spokeswoman .. declined to comment on the suit, but said the police version of the Impala was different from those sold to others. It has a special electrical system and special suspension system, she said, to accommodate law enforcement needs.

A lawyer representing the owners, said police Impalas were not significantly different from those sold to the general public when it came to the rear tires and performance of rods. "We don't think there's a meaningful difference in terms of the defect," the laywer said Friday.

Lawyers for the owner cite numerous complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and message boards such as Edmunds.com, carcomplaints.com and aboutautomobile.com. The government has never opened a formal investigation into the 2007 or 2008 Impala.

A complaint filed with the NHTSA in March said the owner of a 2007 Impala replaced tires twice in less than two years. The owner also filed a complaint with GM.

"Was told by my dealership that GM knows about this problem and has come out with a … kit to fix problem, but I had to purchase it," the owner wrote. "Excessive wear is a safety problem and I guess people have to die for action to be taken."

Another complaint, also filed with the NHTSA in March, said the tires wore out in just 6,000 miles.

"The vehicle has 45,000 miles on it and this is the second set of tires in 6,000 miles," the complaint said.

One complaint said the owner had replaced tires three times on a 2008 Impala LTZ with 41,000 miles. "This is the first Chevy Impala I have owned," the complainant wrote in August 2010. "Was completely satisfied with my Pontiacs."

The Georgia owner of a 2008 Impala LTZ who bought the car in October 2009 said he had a blowout in Bainbridge, Pa., in February 2010 — "nearly causing a crash" — after driving fewer than 11,000 miles on a new set of tires. "There is no way possible that I should have to be replacing two worn-out tires within 10,829 miles," he wrote. "This is unheard of."

Sean Kane, who heads the auto safety group Safety Research & Strategies, which often works with plaintiff's attorneys, said automakers frequently look to reduce repair and recall costs.

"It's not uncommon to see automakers try to limit the fix. They may look to take care of the biggest part of the problem if it will save money," Kane said

MORE RECALL INFO:  Chevrolet Impala

NEWS:   GM announces two recalls affecting 10,000 trucks

YAHOO NEWS -- July 1, 2011 – General Motors Co announced two separate recalls on Friday affecting a little more than 10,000 pickup trucks, predominantly in North America.

GM recalled more than 9,000 Chevrolet Colorado and GM Canyon trucks for the model year 2011 because these vehicles may have been built with an automotive transmission clip that could slip and inaccurately show the position of the transmission gear.

A driver could move the shifter to "park," but the transmission gear might not be in "park" and the vehicle could roll away and cause a crash, according to a notice posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website.

GM also is recalling some other pickup trucks for the model year 2011 because the bolts on the intermediate steering shaft may not have been tightened to the proper specification. A total of 891 trucks are affected in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The affected models include the 2011 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado and GM Sierra trucks.

MORE RECALL INFO:

• Chevrolet Colorado
• GMC Canyon
• Cadillac Escalade
• Chevrolet Silverado
• Chevrolet Suburban
• Chevrolet Tahoe
• GMC Yukon
• GMC Sierra

MAY 2011 -- General Motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured fromOctober 2, 2009, through April 21, 2011. The bolt attaching the intermediate steering shaft to the steering gear input shaft may not have been properly installed. This could allow the shafts to separate, resulting in the loss of steering. Loss of steering control may increase the risk of a crash dealers will inspect, and if required, repair the intermediate shaft/steering gear assembly to assure the bolt is fully seated and the shaft properly assembled. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on May 23, 2011.  11V-270

MAY 2011 -- General Motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured from October 6, 2009, through April 27, 2011 and equipped with an automatic transmission for failing to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 102, 'Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect,' and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 114, 'Theft Protection.' These vehicles may have been built with a transmission shift linkage that is not properly installed. If the linkage is not properly installed, the PRNDL shift lever may not accurately reflect the position of the transmission gear. With this condition, the driver could move the shifter topark and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in park. The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning. Dealers will inspect the transmission shift linkage for correct installation and adjust the shift linkage system free of charge. The safety recall began on May 23, 2011.   11V-273

MAY 2011 -- General Motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 135, Passenger Car Brake Systems." Some of these vehicles may have been built with a clearance condition in which the right rear brake hose may contact the tire or wheel rim. If the brake hose repeatedly contacts the tire or wheel rim, a hole could be worn in the brake hose. A damaged brake hose may reduce the effectiveness of the rear brakes and increase the distance required to stop the vehicle. An increased braking distance may increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will secure the right rear brake hose to ensure sufficient clearance. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on May 13, 2011. . 11V-275

MAY 2011 -- General Motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured from September 22, 2010, through November 5, 2010. Some of these vehicles have the condition in which the windshield wiper motor crank arm nut may not be tightened to specification. When the wipers are operated with a build-up of snow or ice, or if the wipers are operated on a dry windshield, the nut could loosen. If there is sufficient loosening of the nut, the wipers could become inoperative. Driver visibility could be reduced increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will secure the wiper motor crank arm nut free of charge. The safety recall began on May 11, 2011.   11V-276

APRIL 2011 -- General Motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. During manufacturing the steering wheel could have been improperly fastened and may detach from the steering column. Should the steering wheel detach from the steering column while driving, the driver could lose the ability to steer the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will inspect to ensure that the steering wheel is assembled properly. This service will be performed for you free of charge. The safety recall began on April 7, 2011. GM's recall campaign number is 11094. 11V-221

NEWS:   GM recalls 2011 Cruze cars to inspect steering shaft

YAHOO NEWS -- May 4, 2011 – General Motors Co is recalling 154,112 of its top-selling Chevrolet Cruze compact cars to check that the steering shaft was properly installed, the automaker said on Wednesday.

These cars represent all of the Cruze cars built at its plant in Lordstown, Ohio, from the start of production last summer through April 21 when changes at the plant were completed to keep the issue from reoccurring, GM said.

The cars were sold in the United States and Canada since last September.

Of those vehicles, more than 120,000 cars with an automatic transmission will also be inspected to ensure the transmission shift linkage was properly installed, GM said.

"Very few" of the vehicles should have either problem, and GM has made quality process changes to ensure neither error happens again, GM Vice President of Global Quality ...said in a statement.

A GM spokesman said the wider steering shaft issue was discovered when a customer lost steering control in a parking lot, but did not have an accident.

The issue regarding Cruze models with automatic transmissions was discovered when customers brought in their cars under warranty, GM said.

GM said no accidents or injuries had been reported in the Cruze recall.

The Cruze was GM's top-selling car in April and is instrumental to diversifying GM's lineup at a time of rising fuel prices. Only the Chevrolet Silverado sold more units for GM last month than the Cruze.

An analyst with IHS Automotive, said he does not expect the recall to impact sales of the Cruze, which last year replaced the sales laggard Cobalt.

"Nothing's exploding. No one's in danger," he said.

A manual transmission version, the Cruze Eco, gets 42 miles per gallon on the highway and the more-popular automatic transmission version gets 37 mpg on the highway.

Last month, GM recalled 2,100 Cruze cars to inspect for an improperly fastened steering wheel.

GM said it would file documents on the Cruze recall with U.S. federal safety regulators on Thursday, and that it would mail notices to customers beginning next week.

The inspection at Chevy dealerships will take about an hour, GM said.

The fix requires no parts and is a matter of realigning the steering shaft or shifting links, GM said.

Changes at the plant in Lordstown involve different tools used by workers and a change in procedure, GM said.

• MORE RECALL INFO:   Chevrolet Cruze

TRUCK, VAN RECALLS ALSO

GM, the largest U.S. automaker, also announced two other recalls. No crashes or injuries stemmed from any of the recalls.

The company said the nut on the windshield wiper motor crank arm could come loose on some 2011 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickup trucks, affecting 6,303 vehicles, including 4,674 trucks in the United States.

And it said possible brake fluid leaks prompted it to recall 8,723 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans for the model year 2011.

MORE RECALL INFO:   

• Chevrolet Colorado
• GMC Canyon
• Chevrolet Express
• GMC Savana

NEWS:   U.S. probes gas gauges in 865,000 GM vehicles

DETROIT FREE PRESS -- April 29,  2011 – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into whether nearly 1 million General Motors vehicles may have faulty gas gauges.

“Consumers have reported incidents of inaccurate and random fuel level reading while driving, resulting in the vehicle running out of fuel and causing vehicle stall with no restart,” NHTSA investigators said in their formal document opening the probe.

GM spokesman ...said the Detroit automaker planned to “work with NHTSA and was cooperating in the investigation.”

The agency estimates 865,000 vehicles could be affected, and NHTSA said it has received “668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.”

Of those complaints, 58 involved stalls, and 43 were stalls where a driver specifically reported that it was “because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank.”

NHTSA said at least one crash allegedly took place when a vehicle ran out of gas, when it “stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.”

The safety agency said the complaints they were receiving showed “an apparent increasing trend” of the problem, with “most complaints received within the past year.”

What NHTSA terms a preliminary evaluation has been opened this week “to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.”

NHTSA spokeswoman...told the Free Press there is “no set timetable” for how long the initial phase of the investigation could take. She said government officials would seek information from GM and ultimately decide whether to elevate the investigation into what’s known as an engineering analysis.

NHTSA spokeswoman declined to provide more specific details on the cases involved.

GM spokesman ...said the Detroit automaker had received NHTSA’s formal notification document about the preliminary probe, but had not yet received detailed questions from the agency about the potential gas gauge problem. He said those would likely be sent to GM by the government within the next couple of weeks.

MORE RECALL INFO:   

• 2005-07 - Chevrolet Trailblazer
• 2005-07 - GMC Envoy
• 2005-07 - Buick Rainier
• 2005-07 - Saab 9-7x

NEWS:   GM recalls Cruze cars for steering wheel issue

YAHOO NEWS -- April 11,  2011 – General Motors Co is recalling about 2,100 Chevrolet Cruze small cars to inspect for an improperly fastened steering wheel after discovering one vehicle with the defect.

There have been no crashes or injuries related to the vehicle with the problem, GM said. The possibly affected vehicles are for the model year 2011, GM said.

"We are confident this is the only vehicle with this condition," said .. GM executive director of safety, said in a statement.

The Cruze small car was launched overseas in late 2009 and in the United States in September 2010. It replaced the Chevrolet Cobalt in the U.S. market and other models overseas.

GM has said its Cruze small car was on track to exceed 50,000 U.S. sales in the first quarter.

More than 100,000 Cruzes have been built since the start of production in the United States, GM said

MORE RECALL INFO:   Chevrolet Cruze

JANUARY 2011 - General Motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Colorado, Express, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe; and GMC Canyon, Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles. The rear axle cross pins were not properly heat treated and could fracture and become displaced within the rear axle. Should the pin shift out of position, it could create an interference condition and cause the rear axle to lock. The driver may not be able to maintain directional control ofthe vehicle and a crash could occur without warning. Dealers will install a new rear axle cross pin free ofcharge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2011. 11V-007

DECEMBER 2010 - General Motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The driver and /or front passenger safety belt buckle anchor may fracture and separate near the seat attachment in a vehicle crash. The safety belt system may not restrain the occupant(s) as designed and could increase the risk of injury. Dealers will modify the passenger and/or the driver safety belt buckles as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before January 18, 2011. 10V-623

DECEMBER 2010 - General Motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado LD and GMC Sierra LD vehicles. The rear axle cross pins were not properly heat treated and could fracture and become displaced within the rear axle. Should the pin shift out of position, it could create an interference condition and cause the rear axle to lock. The driver may not be able to maintain directional control of the vehicle and a crash could occur without warning. Dealers will install a new rear axle cross pin free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during January 2011. 10V-643

NEWS:   GM expands recall of some 2011 trucks and SUVs

YAHOO NEWS -- January 15,  2011 –   General Motors is expanding an earlier recall of some 2011 model-year trucks and SUVs to fix a problem that could cause the vehicles' rear axles to lock.

The recall, originally announced in December, now covers 26,751 Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC trucks and SUVs. The models affected are: Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Cadillac EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Colorado, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe; and GMC Canyon, Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL.

GM said rear-axle cross pins, used to hold the axle in place, weren't properly heat-treated and may not be durable. They can fracture, interfere with the axle and cause it to lock. The driver could then lose control of the vehicle.

One customer has reported a loss of power to the axle, GM says. But no crashes have been reported.

GM says owners of the vehicles are being contacted and urged against driving the trucks until the axle pin is replaced.

The December recall for this same issue covered 1,262 trucks and SUVs. But the company has since discovered that more vehicles were built with the faulty axle pin. In addition, the earlier recall didn't include the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize trucks.

A GM spokesman said Saturday that the company is confident all the faulty parts have now been discovered

MORE RECALL INFO: 

• Cadillac Escalade
• Chevrolet Avalanche
• Chevrolet Silverado
• GMC Sierra

NEWS:   GM recalls almost 100,000 vehicles due to 2 issues

YAHOO NEWS -- December 23,  2010 –   General Motors Co. is recalling almost 100,000 vehicles to fix two problems that could cause the rear axle to lock and the passenger-side airbag not to work.

GM says in postings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the airbag recall affects almost 96,000 2005 to 2007 model year versions of the Cadillac CTS.

The axle recall affects almost 1,300 2011 model year versions of the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 and Silverado 1500, as well as the GMC Sierra 1500.

The axle recall is expected to begin in January. GM did not say when the airbag recall would begin.

MORE RECALL INFO: 

• Cadillac Escalade
• Chevrolet Avalanche
• Chevrolet Silverado
• GMC Sierra

NEWS:   GM recalling 100,000 crossovers to fix seat belts

YAHOO NEWS -- December 17,  2010 –  General Motors Co. is recalling about 100,000 crossover vehicles to fix seat belts that could fail in a crash.

GM said Friday in a posting with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the recall involves 2011 model year versions of the Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. The automaker said the seat belt buckle anchor for the driver and front passenger seats could break apart in a crash.

GM spokesman ...said there have been no crashes or injuries reported.

GM said it discovered the problem during testing in September. Dealers will modify the seat belt buckles free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin in mid-January.

MORE RECALL INFO: 

• Cadillac SRX
• Chevrolet Equinox
• GMC Terrain

NEWS:   GM, Isuzu recall pickups for child seat problem

YAHOO NEWS -- November 24,  2010 –  More than 192,000 General Motors and Isuzu midsize pickup trucks are being recalled because of a problem with the system that anchors child safety seats, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday.

The recall affects Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon models from the 2004 to 2011 model years. Also affected are Isuzu I-280 and I-350 pickups from 2006 and I-290 and I-370 models from 2007 and 2008. The Isuzus were built by GM at its factory in Shreveport, Louisiana.

NHTSA said on its website that the trucks all have bench front seats and no rear seats. Owners can't get to the top child seat anchor for the center of the front seat, and the owner's manual has no instructions on how to use the top anchor, NHTSA said. No accidents or injuries have been reported, GM spokesman said.

Both NHTSA and GM discourage people from using child seats in the front seats of vehicles.

"We don't want anybody to put it there anyway because it's not safe,"  GM spokesman said.

The repairs are being made because there could be circumstances that require putting a child in a safety seat in the front-center seating position, since the trucks have no rear seats, NHTSA said. The affected models could be regular cab or extended cab vehicles.

The lack of access to the top tether anchor and lack of instructions could result in the seat being improperly installed, increasing the risk of injury or death in a crash, NHTSA said.

The automakers do not yet have a schedule for notifying owners of the problem, NHTSA said. Dealers will cut a hole in the back panel to open access to the anchor, and the automakers will give owners information on how to properly secure the seats.

MORE RECALL INFO: 

• Chevrolet Colorado:  2004-2011
• GMC Canyon:  2004-2011
• Isuzu I-280:  2006
• Isuzu I-350:  2006
• Isuzu I-290:  2007, 2008
• Isuzu I-370:  2007, 2008

NEWS:   GM recalls 300,000 Impalas over seat belt problem

YAHOO NEWS -- October 15, 2010 – General Motors is recalling more than 300,000 Chevrolet Impala sedans because the seat belts may fail to restrain people in the front seats during a crash.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says on its website that the front-seat belt webbing may not be secured properly to a lap belt anchor on the side of the seat near the doors.

The recall affects Impalas from the 2009 and 2010 model years.

Dealers will inspect how the belts are anchored. The will reinstall the anchors if needed at no cost to the owners.

MORE RECALL INFO:   Chevrolet Impala

AUGUST 2010 -- General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn OUTLOOK vehicles. The second row seat side trim shield restricts the upward rotation of the safety belt buckle when the seat back is returned to a seating position after being folded flat. If the buckle contacts the seat frame, additional effort is required to return the seat to a seatingposition. If sufficient force is applied, the buckle cover could be pushed down the strap, exposing and partially depressing the red release button. The safety belt may not restrain the occupant as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant. Dealers will modify the second row seat side trim shields. If a safety belt buckle is damaged, dealers will replace it free of charge. The safety recall began on August 18, 2010.   GM's recall No. N100243. 10V-375

NEWS:   GM recalls 250K vehicles; seat belts may not latch

YAHOO NEWS -- August 17, 2010 – General Motors is recalling nearly 250,000 crossover vehicles worldwide to inspect second-row seat belts that could be damaged and not latch.

GM says the recall affects 2009-2010 models of the Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook.

Most of the recalled vehicles are in the United States but some are also in Canada, Mexico and elsewhere.

GM says the seat belt buckle could be damaged when the seat back is returned to an upright position. That could make the buckle appear to latch when it isn't.

The automaker says it does not know of any cases where the second-row seat belts failed to perform properly in a crash.

MORE RECALL INFO

• Chevrolet Traverse
• Buick Enclave
• GMC Acadia
• Saturn Outlook

NEWS:   GM recalling 1.5M vehicles over fire concerns

YAHOO NEWS – June 8, 2010 – General Motors Co. said Tuesday it was recalling about 1.5 million vehicles worldwide to address a problem with a heated windshield wiper fluid system that could lead to a fire, its second recall over the issue in two years.

The recall affects several pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, crossovers and passenger car models from the 2006 to 2009 model years. GM conducted a similar recall in 2008 but came across new reports of fires in vehicles that had been fixed.

GM said it would disable the heated washer fluid system module that could lead to fires. The Detroit automaker will pay owners and those leasing vehicles $100 each since the feature is being disabled.

GM said it was aware of five fires but there had been no injuries or crashes reported. Nearly 1.4 million vehicles are in the U.S. and more than 100,000 vehicles are in Canada, Mexico and other international markets.

"While our analysis shows the number of incidents is very small compared with the number of vehicles on the road, we want our customers to have complete peace of mind," said Jeff Boyer, GM's executive director of safety.

The recall covers the 2006-2009 model year Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS, and Hummer H2; 2008-2009 Buick Enclave and Cadillac CTS; 2007-2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT; 2007-2009 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban and Tahoe; 2007-2009 GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL; 2007-2009 Saturn Outlook; and 2009 Chevrolet Traverse.

The auto company said customers will begin to receive recall letters later this month but can contact their dealer to make an appointment to have the heated washer system removed. Dealers will remove the heated washer fluid module and reroute washer fluid hoses.

GM said the technology was available from only one supplier, Microheat Inc., of Farmington Hills, Mich., which went out of business, preventing GM from working with another supplier on an improved design.

GM recalled more than 900,000 vehicles because of the heated washer fluid system in August 2008 because a short circuit on the circuit board could overheat the ground wire. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had opened an investigation in February 2008 into 2007 Yukon and Tahoe vehicles over potential engine compartment fires.

The government closed its investigation after the 2008 recall but GM later came across fires in vehicles that had been fixed under the previous recall, prompting the latest safety action.

MORE RECALL INFO

• Buick Enclave
• Buick Lucerne
• Cadillac CTS
• Cadillac DTS
• Cadillac Escalade, ESV and EXT
• Chevrolet Avalanche
• Chevrolet Silverado
• Chevrolet Suburban
• Chevrolet Tahoe
• Chevrolet Traverse
• GMC Acadia
• GMC Sierra
• GMC Yukon and Yukon XL
• Hummer H2
• Saturn Outlook

APRIL 2010 -- GM is recalling certain model year 2005 and 2006 Chevrolet Corvette passenger cars manufactured between March 2004 and January 2006 equipped with a tilt and telescoping steering column (RPO N37). In rare cases, repeated movement of the steering column may cause a signal interruption within the column. If this occurs, the message, "service active handling system" will appear in the driver information center, and one or more of the brakes may apply, possibly causing the vehicle to pull to the right or left. If the driver does not respond to the change in vehicle movement, a crash could occur. GM will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on April 30, 2010.  GM's recall campaign number is N100118.   10V-172

MARCH 2010 - General Motors is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and model year 2007-2010 Pontiac G5 vehicles equipped with electric power steering. The driver may experience a sudden loss ofpower steering assist that could occur at any time while driving. If power steering assist is lost, it would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the electric power steering motor free of charge. The safety recall began on March 29, 2010.   10V-073

MARCH 2010 - General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles for failing to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 103, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems." These vehicles were built with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control knobs that may fracture and spin on the control shaft. The driver may no longer be able to control the heating, cooling, and ventilation for the vehicle. If this condition affects the defrost system when it is required, it may decrease the driver's visibility, and could possibly result in a crash. Dealers will replace all HVAC control knobs free of charge. The safety recall began on March 11, 2010.   10V-096

GOOGLE NEWS -- March 1, 2010 – General Motors Co. said Monday it will recall 1.3 million Chevrolet and Pontiac compact cars sold in the U.S., Canada and Mexico to fix power steering motors that can fail.

The recall affects 2005 to 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts, 2007 to 2010 Pontiac G5s, 2005 and 2006 Pontiac Pursuits sold in Canada and 2005 and 2006 Pontiac G4s sold in Mexico.

The automaker said the vehicles are still safe to drive and never lose their steering, but it may be harder to steer them when traveling under 15 mph.

GM spokesman Alan Adler said it will take time for the automaker to get 1.3 million new power steering motors from the supplier, JTEKT Corp., and GM will notify car owners when the parts are available.

Adler said the failures are rare and the cars can still be driven until motors can be replaced by dealers. Drivers will see a warning light and hear a chime if the power steering fails, but they could be surprised when the steering becomes more difficult.

GM told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the recall on Monday. NHTSA began an investigation into 905,000 of the models on Jan. 27 after getting 1,100 complaints that the cars lost their power steering assist. The complaints included 14 crashes and one injury.

The automaker will fix older models first because it usually takes 20,000 to 30,000 miles of driving for the condition to develop, Adler said. GM also will have to repair thousands of vehicles on dealer lots before they can be sold, he said.

"Recalling these vehicles is the right thing to do for our customers' peace of mind," J........GM's vice president of quality, said in a statement.

Adler said if the power steering assist fails, it usually comes back for a time after the car is shut off and restarted.

MORE RECALL INFO:   Chevy Cobalt     Pontiac G5

The new recall applies to 2005-07 model year Corvettes and Corvette Z06 models.

GM told the National Highway Traffic Safety administration that the adhesive between the roof panel and frame may separate. GM will install a redesigned roof panel as a result.

"If there is a partial separation, the driver may notice one or more symptoms, such as a snapping noise when driving over bumps, wind noise, poor roof panel fit, roof panel movement/bounce when a door or hatch is closed, or a water leak," GM said.

This is the second attempt by GM to fix the problem.

In May 2006, GM told NHTSA that it was recalling 30,793 2005-06 Corvettes over concerns that the vehicles, "primarily in hot and humid climates, have a condition in which the adhesive between the roof panel and the frame may separate."

GM said the problem was due to inadequate bonding strength, following reports of at least 11 roof separations. GM's 2006 fix was to insert adhesive foam -- and, if necessary, replacement of the roof.

In March, an inquiry from Japan's Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport about a Corvette roof that was repaired after the 2006 recall prompted GM to look at its U.S. warranty claims data for Corvettes.

As a result, GM found 108 claims of roof separation after the foam was added in the attempt to fix the problem. GM spokesman said there are no reports of injuries as a result.

Now, GM will replace the roofs.

The automaker will begin notifying owners in January and will reimburse motorists who have already gotten their roofs repaired or replaced.

MORE RECALL INFO:   Chevrolet Corvette

Separately, GM issued another recall Monday for 59,000 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles over concerns that the software in the center instrument panel could cause the heating, air conditioning, defrost and radio controls as well as the panel illumination to stop working. GM said the computer module will be replaced and the software "reflashed."

NHTSA said drivers could risk accidents if they drove without working defrost systems, but GM said there are no reports of injuries.

MORE RECALL INFO:   Chevrolet Equinox    GMC Terrain

DECEMBER 2009 - General Motors is recalling certain model year 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems and with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 101, Controls and Displays". The software in the center instrument panel can cause the heating, air conditioning, defrost, and radio controls, as well as the panel illumination to become inoperative. Driving without a functioning defrost system can decrease your visibility under certain driving conditions and could result in a crash without warning. Dealers will replace the computer module in the center instrument panel free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during January 2010. . 09V-489

DECEMBER 2009 - General Motors is recalling certain model year 2005 through 2007 Corvette vehicles equipped with a removable roof and model year 2006 and 2007 Corvette Z06 vehicles. The adhesive between the roof panel and the frame may separate. If there is a partial separation, the driver may notice one or more symptoms, such as a snapping noise when driving over bumps, wind noise, poor roof panel fit, roof panel movement/bounce when a door or hatch is closed, or a water leak in the headliner. If there is a complete separation, the roof panel may detach from the vehicle. If this were to occur while the vehicle was being driven, it could strike a following vehicle and cause injury and/or property damage. Dealers will install a new design roof panel free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during January 2010.  09V-491

OCTOBER 2009 -- General Motors is recalling certain model year 2006 Chevrolet cobalt and Saturn Ion vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Arizona and Nevada; and model year 2007 Chevrolet cobalt, Pontiac G5 and Saturn ion vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada and Texas. The plastic supply or return port on the modular reservoir assembly may crack. If either of these ports develops a crack, fuel will leak from the area. If the crack becomes large enough, fuel may be observed dripping onto the ground and vehicle performance may be affected. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire. Dealers will replace the fuel pump module free of charge. A special coverage will be implemented in the same time frame for model year 2006 vehicles registered in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas and model year 2007 vehicles registered in: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, north Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule.  09V-419

JULY 2009 -- GM is recalling 1,880 model year 2007 Chevrolet Kodiak and T-series, GMC Topkick and T-series, Isuzu Fseries and H-series passenger vehicles equipped with 7.8l diesel engine. The air compressor in some of these vehicles may not build enough air pressure to support the air brake system. If this condition were to occur while the vehicles was stationary (brakes applied), the air brakes would remain applied and prevent the vehicle from moving. If the driver ignores these warnings and continues to drive the vehicle, and if there was a continued loss of pressure, the rear spring parking brakes would automatically apply, preventing the truck from being driven. Dealers will inspect the air compressor for its ability to build air pressure, and either modify the air compressor by elimination of the suppression valve or replace the air compressor assembly free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2009.  09V-309

JULY 2009 -- GM is recalling 185,903 model year 2004-2009 Colorado, GMC model year 2009-2004 Canyon, model year 2006 I-280, I-350, model year 2007-2008 I-290, and I-370, passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands and Utah. Some of these vehicles have a brake lamp switch that may not work as designed due to contamination in the switch.  This condition could cause the simultaneous loss of all brake lamps or cause all of the brake lamps to stay on continuously. Both of these conditions could fail to warn others of the driver's intentions and could lead to a vehicle crash. Dealers will inspect and replace the necessary components as specified in the recall bulletin free ofcharge. Gm anticipates that parts will be available by February 2010. A special coverage for vehicles registered in all other states will be implemented in the same time frame. In the interim, owners who experience the failure can obtain a free repair, however they will be required to return when the new design part becomes available.  09V-310

MAY 2009 --  GM is recalling 15,393 MY 2009 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 135, "Passenger Car Brake Systems." These vehicles may have a park brake cable link (connector) that is not to specification. This connector may fracture when the park brake pedal is depressed. If the transmission shift lever is in the park position, there will be no unintended vehicle movement. However, if the keys are left in the ignition, the transmission shift lever is in any position other than park, and the vehicle is parked on a sufficient slope, it could result in unintended vehicle movement. This could result in a crash without prior warning. Dealers are to replace the park brake cable link (connector) free of charge. GM anticipates that the dealer bulletin will be sent May 5, 2009 and owner letters will be mailed in June 2009.  09V-153

MARCH 2009 -- General Motors is recalling 276,729 MY 2009 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Cobalt, HHR, Malibu, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Pontiac G5, G6 and Saturn Aura and Outlook passenger vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard 102, "Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter Interlock, And Transmission Braking Effect", and FMVSS 114, "Theft Protection and RollawayPrevention". On some of these vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjustment clip may not be fullyengaged. If the clip is not fully engaged, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. With this condition, the drive could move the shifter to "park" and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in "park". The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning. Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In theevent that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before March 24, 2009.    09V-073

NEWS:    GM recalling vehicles to fix shift lever problem

WASHINGTON (AP) — General Motors Corp. is recalling about 277,000 vehicles because of a potential defect in the shift lever that could cause a vehicle to roll away.

GM says the recall involves 2009 model year versions of the Buick Enclave; Chevrolet Cobalt, HHR, Malibu and Traverse; GMC Acadia; Pontiac G5 and G6; and the Saturn Aura and Outlook.

A GM spokeswoman says about 75,000 vehicles have been purchased. The rest are at dealerships. No crashes or injuries have been reported.

In some cases, the shift lever and the transmission gear's position may not match, meaning a driver could move the shifter to the park position but the transmission gear may not be in park.

A vehicle could roll away and crash or have problems restarting

MORE RECALL INFORMATION

• Buick Enclave
• Chevrolet Cobalt

• Chevrolet HHR

• Chevrolet Malibu

• Chevrolet Traverse
• GMC Acadia

• Pontiac G5

• Pontiac G6

• Saturn Aura

• Saturn Outlook

NOVEMBER  2008 -- GM is recalling 16,667 MY 2009 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook vehicles for failing to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 209, 'Seat Belt Assemblies.' These vehicles may have been built with a safety belt buckle in the second or third row that is missing a rivet. In a vehicle crash, if the rivet is missing, the buckle may separate from the mounting strap, increasing the risk of injury to the passenger. Dealers will inspect the safety belt buckles in the second and third rows, and replace them if necessary. The recall began on November 26, 2008.  08V615

OCTOBER 2008 -- GM is recalling 79 MY 2009 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a passenger-side front air bag inflator that could fracture at an inflator tube during a deployment. During a passenger-side air bag deployment, pieces of the inflator tube could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the passenger. Dealers will install a new passenger-side front air bag. The recall began on October 10, 2008.  08V517

SEPTEMBER 2008 -- GM is recalling 296,422 MY 2006-2008 Chevrolet HHR vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 201, 'Occupant Protection in Interior Impact." The door on the storage bin in the top center of the instrument panel failed to remain closed as required. This standard specifies performance requirements to provide head impact protection for occupants. A redesigned latch will be made available. The recall is expected to begin during November 2008. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or MyGMLink at http://www.GM.com/recall. This recall was the subject of an investigation conducted by the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance. 08V444

AUGUST 2008 -- GM is recalling 857,735 MY 2006-2008 Buick Lucerne; Cadillac DTS; Hummer H2; MY 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe; GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL, Saturn Outlook; and MY 2008 Buick Enclave vehicles equipped with a heated wiper washer fluid system. A short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater may overheat the control-circuit ground wire. This may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor, or cause smoke increasing the risk of a fire. Dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule.  08V441

JULY 2008 --  GM is recalling 151 MY 2008 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles equipped with all wheel drive (AWD). Some of these vehicles have transfer cases that were manufactured with an incorrect part that can cause early failure of a drive chain. If the chain breaks, shifting the transmission to park may not keep the vehicle stationary. If the vehicle is parked on an incline or bumped, it may roll and strike a person, object, or another vehicle without warning, and cause personal injury. Dealers will inspect the transfer case date code and, if necessary, replace the transfer case. The recall is expected to begin during August 2008.  08V340

JULY 2008 --  GM is recalling 2,481 MY 2008 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana cutaway fleet vans equipped with a 6.0l (RPO LY6) V8 engine, 4l80E (RPO MT) transmission, 4.10 (RPO GT5) axle and 75 mph governor (RPO 9D7). These vehicles have a condition in which the transmission may be damaged due to first gear engagement at highway speeds and then does not transmit power with ‘D4’ or ‘R’ selected. This may be preceded by engine shutdown if the vehicle exceeds 81 miles per hour in certain conditions. The vehicle may be stranded on or near a highway, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will reprogram the transmission and engine control modules. The recall is expected to begin during August 2008.  08V313

JULY 2008 --  GM is recalling 567 MY 2008 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana cutaway vehicles with a 139" wheel base. The frame rail on the driver's side may be wider than specifications. If the frame rail is wider, over time it may contact the fuel tank housing, resulting in a possible fuel leak. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire. Dealers will inspect the clearance between the frame rail and fuel tank housing and will rework the frame rail if necessary. The recall is expected to begin during August 2008.   08V315

FEBRUARY 2008 -- GM is recalling 181,516 MY 2006-2008 Chevrolet HHR vehicles not equipped with optional roof rail air bags for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 201, 'Occupant Protection in Interior Impact.' In tests, one of the upper interior occupant protection test points exceeded the standard's requirement. This standard specifies performance requirements to provide head impact protection for occupants. Dealers will install an energy-absorbing plastic piece to the headliner trim. The recall is expected to begin during March 2008. This recall was the subject of an investigation, OA-201-060918B, conducted by the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance. 08V046

NOVEMBER 2007 -- GM is recalling 11,975 MY 2001 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks equipped with an 8.1L V8 engine. The crankshaft position can operate intermittently or fail completely. If the sensor operates intermittently, the SES light may illuminate and the vehicle may run rough. The engine may stall, and if so, may re-start immediately or after a cool down period. If the sensor becomes completely inoperative, the engine will quit running and will not re-start. Either of these failures can increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the crankshaft position sensor. The recall is expected to begin during December 2007. This recall was the subject of an Engineering Analysis, EA06-016, conducted by the Office of Defects Investigation. 07V521

August 2007 -- GM is recalling 437 MY 2007 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent sport utility vehicles for failing to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." In these vehicles, the right front passenger seat is built with a passenger sensing system. When tested with a representative unrestrained small adult, the system is required to turn the right front passenger's frontal airbag on. An error in the seat sensor calibration can cause it to fail this test. In addition, this condition can prevent the airbag from turning off when the seat is occupied by a small child. Whenever the front passenger seat is occupied, the driver should always check the airbag indicator to see if the airbag is on or off. If it is not correct for the situation, the passenger should be moved to a different seat. This can increase the risk of injury to a seat occupant during certain crash conditions. Dealers will reprogram the seat's electronic control unit. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule for this campaign. 07V-344

August 2007 -- GM is recalling 10,113 MY 2007 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savanna vans for failing to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." When the brakes are applied, the stop lamps will illuminate. When the brake pedal is released, the stop lamps are no longer illuminated but the rear brakes may still be applied. The brake may release after a few seconds or after the next firm brake pedal application. If the rear brakes are still applied after release of the brake pedal, the driver may notice a substantial drag when driving and may need to depress the gas pedal further than usual to continue vehicle movement. A vehicle driven with the brakes applied can cause overheating of the brakes, resulting in increased stopping distance which could result in a crash. Dealers will reprogram the anti-lock brake system module. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule for this campaign. 07V-342

NEWS:    GM recalls 944,000 vehicles for fire hazard

Recall involves vehicles that are equipped with windshield washer fluid heaters.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- August 28, 2008 -- General Motors is recalling 944,000 vehicles, 850,000 of them in the United States, because of the potential for a fire in the vehicles' heated windshield washer fluid system.

A short circuit in the circuit board that controls the system could cause a grounding wire to overheat. That could lead to smoke and the malfunctioning of other electrical components, GM (GM, Fortune 500) said in a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In rare cases, it could cause a fire, GM said.

GM is aware of three fires caused by this problem, two of which were in the company's own test fleet vehicles, GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson said. The company is not aware of any injuries caused by the problem.

The vehicles must be turned on for the short circuit to occur, Wilkinson said, but he could not say whether the washer fluid heating system needed to be in use.

The models listed below, if they're equipped with a heated windshield washer fluid system, are subject to the recall:

The fluid heating system is a popular option on many of GM's large cars and SUVs, said Wilkinson.

On cold days, the system heats windshield washer fluid before spraying it onto the windshield, where it can melt ice and frost on the windshield.

To fix the problem, dealers will install a fuse that will shut off the system in the event of a short circuit. GM has not yet provided NHTSA with a schedule detailing when owners of affected vehicles will be notified.

MORE RECALL INFORMATION:

• Buick Lucerne

• Buick Enclave

• Cadillac DTS

• Cadillac Escalade

• Chevrolet Avalanche

• Chevrolet Silverado

• Chevrolet Suburban

• Chevrolet Tahoe

• GMC Acadia

• GMC Sierra

• GMC Yukon

• Saturn Outlook

NEWS:    NHTSA Investigates 2.7 Million GM Trucks, SUVs

Fire hazard probed in 21 models

ConsumerAffairs.com -- June 17, 2008 -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has intensified a investigation of 21 models of General Motors trucks and SUVS manufactured between 2006 and 2008 because of the possibility of an engine compartment fire.

More than 2,700,000 GM trucks and SUVs are the subject of the the investigation because of the possibility that a fire might erupt inside the engine compartment, even when the ignition is turned off.

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) at the federal safety agency reported that investigators are now aware of "41 non-crash engine compartment fires" in the GM trucks and SUVs including 8 fires that may have caused significant property damage.

The GM vehicles under investigation are:

• Cadillac Escalade ESV and EXT from the 2007 and 2008 model years
• Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 from the 2007 and 2008 model years
• 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche 2500
• 2007 Chevrolet Silverado
• Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 from the 2007 and 2008 model years
• Chevrolet Suburban 1500 and 2500 from the 2007 and 2008 model years
• Chevrolet Tahoe from the 2007 and 2008 models year
• 2008 GMC Sierra,
• GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 from the 2007 and 2008 model years
• 2007 GMC Sierra Classic
• 2007 GMC Silverado, GMC Yukon from the 2007 and 2008 model years
• GMC Yukon XL 1500, XL 2500 from the 2007 and 2008 model years
• Hummer H2 from the 2006 to 2007 model years
• 2008 Hummer H2 Utility, and •the Hummer H2 from the 2006 to 2008 model years

"GM provided ODI with 41 allegations of non-crash engine compartment fires including 16 allegations of fires origination with the ignition in the off position," according to the NHTSA Web site.

Investigators are examining the electrical system, engine and engine cooling system; battery cables; under-hood wiring, fuses and circuit breakers.

NHTSA investigator are now call the probe an "engineering analysis" which could eventually lead to a recall of the General Motors trucks and SUVs.

MORE RECALL INFORMATION:

• Cadillac Escalade

• Chevrolet Avalanche

• Chevrolet Silverado

• Chevrolet Suburban

• Chevrolet Tahoe

• GMC Sierra

• GMC Yukon

• Hummer H2

NEWS:    Feds Step Up Probe of Chevy Aveo Stuck Throttle

Ice formation in engine can cause problems

ComnsumerAffairs.org -- February 19, 2008 -- Federal safety regulators are stepping up an investigation of the vehicle speed control system in 2004 and 2005 Chevrolet Aveos.

The Office of Defect Investigations (ODI) which is part of the National Highway traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has upgraded its evaluation of complaints which began October 19, 2007 about stuck throttles in the Aveo because of “ice formation within the engine air intact tract.”

The change, according to ODI, follows a safety recall by General Motors “involving substantially similar vehicles manufactured for sale in Canada.”

GM, according to the federal safety group twice revised the Canadian recall “to include more substantial changes to the throttle body, intake manifold, positive crankcase ventilation and engine cooling systems to further reduce air intake tract.”

After receiving 28 complaints of a stuck throttle in vehicles in the U.S. along with 46 warranty claims affecting 63 vehicles,” investigators suspect the defect occurs in the winter when the temperature is below freezing.

Information provided to ODI by GM does not include events involving stuck throttles during the “most recent winter months” so the investigation will be intensified to “further study the frequency of the alleged defect,” according to ODI.

An engineering analysis is often the last step before a NHTSA-mandated recall.

MORE RECALL INFORMATION:     Chevrolet Aveo

NEWS:    Feds Probe Fire Complaints in Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon

ConsumerAffairs.Com -- February 9, 2008 --  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating two consumer complaints that 2007 Chevrolet Tahoes and GMC Yukons caught fire while parked in home garages with the engines off.

The truck owners reported to NHTSA that both homes were badly damaged and two people were injured in one of the fires.

The NHTSA Office of Defect Investigations as open a preliminary investigation of both vehicles that could eventually lead to a recall of the SUVs. The agency estimates as many as 400,000 vehicles would be affected if a defect is identified and a recall ordered.

The General Motors SUVs are not equipped with the type of cruise control system that causes a fire in Ford Motor Co. cars and trucks. Ford has recalled more than 10 million vehicles because of a fire danger.

NHTSA also reported on its web site that a preliminary investigation is under way of 2006 Lamborghini Gallardos following three reports of fires. There are 600 of the Gallardos cars on U.S. roads.

More Recall Information:   GMC Yukon  -   Chevy Tahoe

NEWS:   GM recalls pickups, SUVs

Detroit Free Press -- November 20, 2007 --  General Motors Corp. recalled 69,000 Chevrolet, GMC and Pontiac pickups and SUVs and more than 20,000 Saturn cars for repairs including adding interior safety foam and fixing a timing chain.

The recall by the world's largest automaker covers 57,100 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent SUVs from the 2007 model year, and 11,974 2001-model Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks and 20,514 Saturn L-Series cars, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its Web site.

GM will install extra foam in the windshield pillars of the Equinox and Torrent SUVs that aren't equipped with roof air bags or a sunroof, to lessen the risk of head injury during a crash, according to the NHTSA.

In 2.2-liter, four-cylinder versions of the Saturn cars, GM will replace the engine's timing chain, which could separate while the motor is running and boost the chance of a crash. For 8.1-liter, eight-cylinder versions of the Silverado and Sierra, GM will replace the crankshaft position sensor, which can fail and stall the engine.

NEWS:    GM Recalls 30,000-Plus SUVs, Vans