Chance of Fire Prompts General Motors Recalls

Warren, Mich. — September 13, 2016 — Wiring issues may make a fire more likely to break out in one Buick model. Although there is no remedy scheduled as of this writing, one of the more recent General Motors recalls addresses this problem. The component manufacturer in this recall is Lear Corporation, based in Germany.

The official Part 573 Safety Recall Report on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website said that the recall potentially involves 42,984 2011 Buick Regals. A full 100 percent of these are thought to have a wiring harness problem that could wear down the wires themselves.

This chafing could potentially lead to a short circuit, which in turn could start a fire within the vehicle. In addition, the report cited other possible side effects, such as smoke, sparks and flickering instrument-panel lights. Despite this, it did not list any signs to be taken as “identification” of the defect.

The fix requires dealers to repair faulty wiring, if needed, after inspecting and securing the harness. There is also no apparent danger of wire chafing in similar vehicles manufactured after 2011 in Russelheim.

Though the decision to conduct the recall only came June 29, it dates back to Dec. 21, 2015. On that date, the source said, customer reports of fire led to a a Speak Up for Safety report.

A July 7 notice for dealers said that the parts necessary to conduct this recall fix were not currently available: dealers can only proceed once they are. This statement also announced that the Global Warranty Management system would update to reflect the new recall, as a way for dealers to prepare to address owner concerns.

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Welding Issue Triggers GM Recall

Warren, MI — January 13, 2016 — Three different models of 2016 vehicles are included in one of the more recent GM recalls, with a manufacturer’s report date of December 9. This action concerns 2,633 potentially affected vehicle models, all of which could include an improperly welded seat that leaves occupants in danger during a crash. The vehicles have faulty third row lower seat frame welding as a result of problems with the robot welder at the supplier, Michigan-based Bridgewater Interiors.

Just 1 percent of the vehicle population was estimated to have this defect.

The issue was initially discovered November 2015, the same month in which the recalled vehicles were produced. According to a safety recall report also available from the organization, the welder working on the vehicles had a “defective servo motor.” Since November 2012, newly produced versions of these models have been welded by robots with the correct motors.

Dealers were notified on December 9, and just 1 percent of the vehicle population was estimated to have this defect. The report explained the actions dealers were instructed to take to correct this problem.

“Dealers will inspect the third row left side lower seat frame and, if necessary, replace the lower seat frame,” the document stated. “Vehicles built during the affected build date were inspected to identify and replace seat frames built by the defective robot welder,” it added.

In an instructional recall bulletin, General Motors noted that “only approximately 11 involved vehicles” would require a seat frame replacement. As such, it emphasized that dealers order parts only as they need them, to make the most out of the limited replacements in stock.

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New parts Will be Part of GM Oil Leak Remedy

Warren, MI — December 14, 2015 — Earlier this year, General Motors and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) noted the engine compartment fire risk in certain units, including Buick Regal, Chevrolet Impala and Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles with model years between 1997 and 2004. In these cars, hard braking could result in oil landing on the exhaust manifold.

The Part 573 Safety Recall Report associated with this action described said that dealers could replace the engine valve front cover and gasket, as well as remove the oil fill tube extension. The report also stated that previous repairs related to the GM recalls may not be enough to resolve the condition entirely.

The official safety recall itself is set to begin on December 14, and the NHTSA also features a message from GM Customer Care and Aftersales to all of the manufacturer’s dealers. Instead of announcing the shipment of the replacement parts themselves, the company said that advisory letters are in the mail and will set the stage for improvements once the parts are available.

“Even though the parts needed to repair these vehicles are not currently available, the letter explains that when parts are available, their dealer will replace the engine’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design, and the engine’s plastic “beauty” cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension will be removed, if they haven’t been already,” this bulletin reads.

The recall stems from actions as old as 2008, in which the company issued the original recall. More than 1 million vehicles were said to be involved, with 100 percent estimated to have the defect.

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New ignition switch problem leads to GM recall [Video]

A new GM recall concerns ignition switch problems in some Chevrolet Silverado and Suburban vehicles, as well as GMC Sierras and Tahoe SUVs. Fortunately, the problem appears to have been detected early on, with only five accidental shutoffs attributed to it and just over 3,000 autos recalled. In affected vehicles, the cars can get stuck in the ignition when interior temperatures are high.

The lock cylinder in these cars could accidentally be shifted into “accessory” mode, making the truck less safe to drive and leaving it more defenseless during crashes. There have been no injuries reported yet connected to these issues, and is supposedly unrelated to a previous GM ignition switch recall.

The remedy for this issue involves changing out the housing around the ignition area.

Thank you far watching, and check back for the latest news on GM recalls.

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Airbag concerns lead to new GM recall

Washington, D.C. — August 25, 2015 — Adding to the recent wealth of recalls from various manufacturers over airbag deployment concerns, General Motors is now recalling thousands of Chevrolet Impalas. This issue focuses on a defect that would leave only infant passengers and younger children at risk, according to the Detroit News. Owners with children may have to think carefully about the possible dangers of driving these cars with them in the front seat.

Impalas manufactured as late as this June could sport a defect that doesn’t detect if a child seat is installed in the front of the vehicle. The error comes from a calibration problem in an electronic vehicle module, which in turn traces back to issues during vehicle assembly. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) features a recall bulletin detailing the steps needed to correct the “passenger service system” in affected vehicles and improve safety. The fix reportedly takes less than an hour of labor time. The recall specifically applies to those vehicles with vented-heated seats.

“Before the passenger presence system can be re-zeroed the front passenger seat must be completely empty of all items,” the bulletin reads. “The presence of any liquid or items on the front passenger seat will affect the calibration and operation of the passenger presence system.”

A total of 8,989 Impalas are targeted in this action, most of them in the United States and Canada. The NHTSA document indicates that the warning light could turn on when the seat isn’t occupied in the recalls, possibly leading users to discern exactly how at risk they and their families are.

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Old General Motors recall will include new vehicles

Detroit, MI — August 20, 2015 — In 2014, General Motors issued a recall for more than 316,000 vehicles manufactured in a three-year period between 2006 and 2009. As the Associated Press notes, that recall concerned several different models, such as the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Buick Rainier, and was intended to fix an electrical failure that could prevent low-beam headlights from working.

Recently, the manufacturer announced that it is expanding this recall to include 181,000 North American autos for the same reason, extending the action to the Buick LaCrosse, Buick Allure and Pontiac Grand Prix. There is allegedly no permanent remedy for this issue developed yet, although dealers can make do with a temporary replacement in the meantime.

The Detroit News also reported on this recent expansion, noting that the company informed consumers of this stopgap as recently as this January. The module fault is exacerbated by hot temperatures in the engine area.

The News also quotes company spokesman Alan Adler on the problems associated with this danger and what dealers have to do to respond to the situation without the final remedy plan in place.

“These vehicles could intermittently or permanently lose low beam headlamps,” he said. “Until a permanent repair is available, dealers will replace the headlamp module with a new one of the existing part.” Insight into this case has led the government to investigate supplier Delphi Corporation, who is responsible for the distribution of the module. As of this writing, the total amount of recalls connected to this action is 493,265, none of which have contributed to reports of incidents.

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More recalls come from General Motors

Detroit, MI — July 17, 2015 — Although this blog recently commented on a series of recalls from General Motors, more vehicles have been addressed in a new action from the same manufacturer. GM Authority reported on the issue which has spurred on this recall, which concerns the cables connecting the seatbelts inside them. Passengers and drivers alike may find themselves in danger due to wear and tear.

More than 47,000 vehicles may potentially be affected, and includes two different groups of make and models: Chevrolet Caprices from between 2011 and 2013 and Pontiac G8’s from between 2008 and 2009.

GM Authority notes that both of these models are based on the Zeta vehicle architecture. The seatbelt concern is especially important for police to observe, because Caprices are marketed largely to police departments.

The Authority piece details the fix that the company recommends for taking care of the cables, which could lead to injury for vehicle occupants if not addressed.

“GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt tensioner assembly which includes the steel cable, free of charge,” the company said. “These replacement parts reposition the tensioner cable out of the path of entry into the vehicle and uses a more flexible cable, set at a more upright angle.”

This problem may not be immediately apparent, which makes it all the more important that recall statements are processed correctly and issued in a way that successfully promotes the proper actions. Dealers need to have the resources ready to apply fixes and tend to the vehicles that pose any kind of danger, regardless of how visible or obvious it is to the user.

Recall MastersMore recalls come from General Motors

NHTSA spurs Hummer recall

Detroit, MI — July 15, 2015 — General Motors is issuing yet another recall this month, this one for Hummer H3 vehicles with heating motor issues that may lead to a risk of a fire in the vehicle. According to Jalopnik, the issue stems back at least as far as 2008, and is now being addressed following pressure from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is in turn acting in response to consumer concern.

A total number of 196,379 vehicles are being recalled, the majority of which are in the United States. More than 40 fires have been connected to this issue, even though the source says there were “73 incidents involving the HVAC blower motor.” In addition to the threat to drivers, these fires can damage or destroy the vehicles by melting important sections within them.

Although there are other major recalls associated with General Motors, particularly their ignition switch concerns, and this latest recall shows the ways that government pressure can lead to direct action that targets consumer safety.

The H3 models produced between model years 2006 and 2010, as well as the HT3’s in model years 2009 and 2010, are included in this recall measure. To prevent the control units from catching fire, dealers will replace the inefficient modules and make it safer for owners to operate the fan and ventilation systems within their vehicle.

Once a timeline for a recall action has been implemented, dealers need to follow the schedule faithfully and communicate important details to owners in time for them to get the faulty components replaced and avoid further complications from use.

Recall MastersNHTSA spurs Hummer recall

General Motors recalls SUVs for liftgate failure

Detroit, MI — July 13, 2015 — According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), General Motors has discovered a new problem that has prompted a recall for hundreds of thousands of vehicles. The company wants to address possible faults with the power liftgates in certain vehicles, since users could unexpectedly see these gates fail while in use if they don’t follow the prescribed response actions.

The recall acknowledgement document submitted for this case says that the real problem lies with the gas struts that enable affected vehicles to hold the liftgates open when in use. A total of 686,287 vehicles may be affected, including Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and Saturn Outlook models.

Another problem associated with this recall is the Prop Rod recovery software in these vehicles, which normally works to regulate liftgate operation to prevent injury, but would be unable to do so in the affected SUVs.

In a Safety Recall Report also issued by the government agency, the source explains the warning signs associated with this defect.

“As the vehicle’s gas struts wear, the liftgate’s Prop Rod Recovery system will operate to slowly return the liftgate to the closed position,” it states. “The vehicle will also provide audible warnings and flash the tail lamps to indicate there is a problem.”

While there is no notification schedule associated with this recall as of yet, 56 injuries are reportedly associated with the liftgate error, as CBS stated. The fix will involve a software update for better actuator motor control that will keep the liftgate from crashing.

The specific structure of a vehicle and the features it contains require recalls that match these conditions and give dealers and owners a specific place to work from for recovery and success.

Recall MastersGeneral Motors recalls SUVs for liftgate failure