GM Recalls Another 718,000 Vehicles
In late-July, GM announced another six recalls collectively covering more than 700,000 cars, trucks, and crossovers.This series of recalls followed a "stop sale" of Cadillac vehicles only a week prior.
GM's latest recall brings the total number of vehicles the company has brought back in, since the beginning of the year, to more than 26 million. And when added to the service actions announced by competitors as varied as Ford, BMW, and Toyota, the industry overall is fast approaching the 45 million mark, well surpassing the previous record, set in 2004, when 34.1 million vehicles were called back for safety problems.
But the seven new recalls also come as something of a setback for a company whose reputation had already taken a hammering during the first half of the year. By late-June, GM officials had been dropping strong hints that they had largely addressed all the company’s outstanding safety problems.
The six new announcements total 717,950 vehicles all together. The individual recalls include:
- A seat adjuster bolt linked to one crash and three injuries: Recall covers 414,333 vehicles in all, including the 2011-12 Chevrolet Camaro, 2010-12 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, 2011-12 Buick Regal and LaCrosse, and 2010-12 Cadillac SRX models
- A separate seat issue caused by "an incomplete weld" that involves 120,426 vehicles: Recall covers the 2014 Chevrolet Caprice, 2014 Chevrolet SS, light-duty and heavy-duty 2014-15 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, 2013-14 Cadillac ATS, 2014 Cadillac CTS, 2014 Cadillac ELR, and 2013-2014 Buick Encore
- An electronic module that may not alert a motorist when a turn signal burns out: Recall covers 120,426 vehicles are covered, including the 2011-13 Buick Regal and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
- A manufacturing defect that could cause a temporary loss of power steering on 57,242 Chevrolet Impalas produced during the 2014 model-year
- A lower-control arm bolt that wasn’t properly fastened and could cause a loss of steering in 1,191 Chevrolet Spark minicars from the 2014 and 2015 model-years
- An improperly installed roof carrier on a total of just 22 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, and GMC Yukon and Yukon Denali SUVs produced the 2015 model-year
Additionally, GM issued a "stop sale" request in late-July, telling its dealers to park and sit on some older Cadillac models because of potential ignition switch problems. The order covers Caddy CTS models sold during the 2003 to 2013 model-years, as well as 2004 to 2006 Cadillac SRX sport-utility vehicles. A handful of 2014 Cadillac CTS models were also included. The move, however, does not affect vehicles sold by non-GM dealers, whether franchised or independents, so shoppers need be aware that the vehicles have not yet been repaired and could be subject to problems until GM comes up with the appropriate fix.
The 554,000 Cadillacs covered by the June 30 recall are among a larger batch of vehicles that suffer from various ignition switch problems. They are not, however, part of the 2.6 million GM products included in a recall announced in February. That issue involves faulty ignition switches that could shift out of the "on" position inadvertently if the vehicles bounce over rough roads or have heavy weights on their key rings. In such an instance, the engine, power steering and brakes, and airbags may all shut off. That recall has been linked to at least thirteen deaths; has prompted a series of Congressional investigations, as well as a Justice Department probe; and has led GM to initiate a victims’ compensation fund that could eventually pay out $1 billion or more, observers believe, to those killed or injured due to the defect.