Warren, Mich. – June 27, 2018 – General Motors has recalled almost 850 vehicles potentially equipped with defective fuel system components, according to documentation submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
The campaign affects vehicles across multiple brands, including:
- 2018 Buick LaCrosse sedans produced March 27, 2018, and April 20, 2018.
- 2018 Cadillac ATS sedans produced March 20, 2018.
- 2018 Chevrolet Equinox sport utility vehicles produced between March 26, 2018, and April 20, 2018.
- 2018 Chevrolet Colorado pickup trucks produced March 22, 2018, and April 27, 2018.
- 2018 Chevrolet Malibu sedans produced between April 19, 2018, and April 27, 2018.
- 2018 GMC Arcadia sport utility vehicles produced between April 5, 2018, and April 23, 2018.
- 2018 GMC Canyon pickup trucks produced between March 23, 2018, and April 24, 2018.
GM suspects all the vehicles referenced in the recall contain the defective components.
The defect
Affected vehicles contain high-pressure fuel pump’s whose housings are not properly welded nearby flanges. These faulty welds could crack over time, resulting in fuel pump flange separation.
Should this occur, the pump may oscillate within the engine compartment, leading to fuel leakage and, in some cases, fire. This defect therefore poses a serious risk to owners.
However, GM has yet to receive field reports connecting the problematic parts to any accidents or injuries.
Timeline of events
On April 25, 2018, Robert Bosch LLC, the vendor that supplied the fuel pumps installed in the recalled vehicles, contacted GM to disclose the potential existence of problematic housing and flange welds.
The American automaker opened an official investigation into the issue May 5, 2018. While this inquiry uncovered zero occurrences of fuel leakage, GM determined, via Bosch engineering analysis, that the faulty fuel pump welds could fracture and lay the groundwork for this dangerous outcome.
Members of the GM Safety Field Action Decision Authority conducted a final review May 24, 2018, and determined that a voluntary safety recall was necessary.
GM notified dealers of the impending action May 31, 2018.
The solution
The car manufacturer has yet to develop a workable solution, according to an FAQ document. There is therefore no timetable for owner notification. However, GM is working with Bosch to create a cost-free fix.
Check your car’s recall status using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.
