GM recalls in US - for our automobile buffs

Mangalore Today News Network

US, June  20, 2014: General Motors has just initiated another giant recall, affecting some 3.36 million vehicles built between 2000 and 2014 and sold in the US, Canada and Mexico. Once again, the issue surrounds the cars’ ignition switches, which can be kicked out of the run position if they’re carrying extra weight or if they experience a "jarring" event. In this particular case, though, GM will modify the keys, rather than the ignition itself.

A four-by-six-millimeter hole will be drilled into the key, which will more safely accommodate the weight of the key ring. As is usually the case, the work will be done free of charge. The recalled vehicles include the 2000 to 2005 Cadillac Deville, 2004 to 2005 Buick Regal LS and GS, 2004 to 2011 Cadillac DTS, 2005 to 2009 Buick Lacrosse, 2006 to 2008 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 2006 to 2011 Buick Lucerne and 2006 to 2014 Chevrolet Impala. Only the Impala is still in production, and even then, it’s only sold to fleet companies.

According to an official statement from GM, there have been eight crashes and six injuries due to this latest issue. The GM company has announced five smaller recalls in addition to this covering 165,000 vehicles. The first covers the 2013 and 2014 Cadillac ATS and the 2014 CTS. Apparently, a shift cable may separate from the shift bracket, leaving owners unable to shift the automatic transmission out of gear. 68,887 vehicles are affected.

The all-new heavy-duty pickups from Chevrolet and GMC will need to have their power steering hose clamps inspected to make sure they attach properly to the power steering pump. Should it fail, drivers would be left with manual steering and manual brakes, only. 57,192 trucks are covered here.

All-wheel-drive-equipped Cadillac CTS sedans from 2011 could be prone to a gasket leak, leading to a domino effect that could cause the rollover airbags to deploy. Just under 17,000 cars have been recalled.

Just over 700 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray models will need some work, although this recall only covers models with the competition seats. A new side airbag will be installed on the passenger’s seat, because "an unbelted child and door trim" could impede the airbag. We’ve no idea why you’d allow an unbelted child in your 460-horsepower sports car, but we digress.

Finally, 184 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado pickups from model years 2014 and 2015 are being recalled. This recall only covers trucks with vinyl floors and all-weather floormats. Apparently, GM didn’t bother to install attachments for the mats in the vinyl floor, meaning the mats could slide about under the driver’s feet.

Of these five smaller recalls, only the case involving the 2011 CTS is known to have resulted in any incidences. There were 15 accidental deployments, although as GM says, the "injury data is unclear." We’ve got a full press release on this latest fiasco for GM below.