June 9, 2010 GM will recall 1.5M vehicles | detnews.com | The Detroit News
GM will recall 1.5M vehicles
Heated windshield washer system on range of 2006-09 models could spark fire
General Motors Co. is recalling 1.5 million vehicles worldwide to fix problems with a heated windshield washer system that could cause a fire.
It's the automaker's second such recall in two years.
The recall announced Tuesday covers several crossovers, sport utility vehicles, pickups and passenger cars produced between 2006 and 2009.
GM is offering to pay vehicle owners and lessees $100 and to remove the heated windshield washer fluid system, according to a safety recall notice.
GM launched a similar recall in 2008 to add a fuse to address a potential electrical short. But there have been new reports of incidents since then. Five fires have been reported, but no injuries or crashes have resulted, GM said.
"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," Jeff Boyer, GM's executive director of safety, said in a prepared statement.
Aaron Bragman, an auto analyst at IHS Global Insight, said the recall is unlikely to hurt GM sales or quality perceptions among consumers, who have faced a string of recalls in recent months among major automakers, including Chrysler Group LLC and Toyota Motor Corp.
"It doesn't help by any means, especially if they're trying to tell people they've got much better quality and reliability, and then they issue a recall," Bragman said.
The GM recall was announced four days after Chrysler recalled 34,600 Dodge Calibers and 90 Jeep Compasses.
That recall was prompted by a bad batch of parts that led to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation into sticky pedals.
"It's no longer stunning or shocking when anybody does a recall, considering the magnitude of the ones we've had in the last year," Bragman said.
Most of the affected GM vehicles are in the United States; others are in Canada, Mexico and elsewhere.
Owners of affected vehicles will start receiving letters from GM notifying them of the recall after Friday.
Dealers will remove the heated washer fluid module and reroute washer fluid hoses. The action likely will take more than 20 minutes to complete.
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Additional Facts
GM recall
# Buick Enclave and Lucerne; Cadillac CTS, DTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe and Traverse; GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL, Hummer H2 and Saturn Outlook.
Source: General Motors Co.
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