General Motors will be asking approximately 1.4 million vehicle owners to return to their dealerships to fix a problem affecting several older model nameplates. U.S. safety regulators issued a recall to fix the defect in 2007 after owners reported engine fires shortly after parking their vehicles. A second recall was issued in 2009 when over one thousand cars caught fire despite already being repaired. Continue reading
Category Archives: Chevrolet
Incorrect Repair Could Lead To Chevy Airbag Safety Problem
General Motors have announced that a small number of 2014 Chevrolet SS and Caprice vehicles receiving replacement seat base assemblies during a repair service, may have an airbag safety problem. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, in some serviced vehicles, the dealers may have not transferred the seat position target bracket from the original seat base. If the seat position sensor does not have a target bracket to read, and the seat is in a forward position, the airbag may deploy at a force greater than intended during an accident. Continue reading
2014-2015 Chevy & GM Trucks Added To Ignition Defect List
General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2014-2015 Chevrolet and GMC trucks and SUVs. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, these vehicles may have an ignition lock actuator manufactured out of specifications. The problem, combined with warm ambient temperatures, could make turning the ignition key difficult and/or the ignition key could get stuck in the start position. If the vehicle is driven with the key stuck in the start position a significant jarring event or cooling of the ambient temperature could result in the ignition snapping back into the accessory position, shutting off the engine, power steering, power brakes, and airbags. Continue reading
GM Seat Mounted Side Impact Airbags Could Rupture
General Motors will be asking a small number of Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC owners to return to their dealership for a safety problem affecting the front seat mounted side impact airbags. During an accident necessitating the deployment of the side impact air bags, the inflator may not properly inflate and could rupture and throw metal fragments that could injure occupants. Continue reading
GM Wiper Motors May Short And Overheat
General Motors has decided that a manufacturing defect which relates to vehicle safety exists in certain 2016 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles and they will be asking approximately 30,000 owners to return to their dealerships for repairs. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, wiper motor covers manufactured using a broken tool, may allow internal terminals to move and potentially contact each other, creating an electrical short. In some cases, the windshield wiper motor cover may melt, smoke, or catch fire. Continue reading
Agreement Reached Over GM Ignition Switch Problems
General Motors and the Department of Justice (DOJ) reached a settlement last week over the handling of GM’s ignition switch problems which led to the high profile recall of certain Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G-6 and Saturn ion lines in 2014. The agreement ends the government investigation into how GM handled faulty ignition switches being blamed for approximately 250 injuries and 124 deaths. In addition to a $900 million fine, GM has been assigned an independent monitor to review its safety policies.
Officially, the automaker was charged with hiding the defect from regulators and defrauding consumers. There will be no individual charges in the case, and the agreement must still be finalized by the courts.
2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala Seat Belt Occupant Sensing Problem
General Motors have announced a problem affecting the automatic occupant sensing (AOS) system in certain 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala vehicles equipped with front vented-heated passenger seats. According to reports, the AOS calibration process may not effectively account for humidity and build material variation and could fail to suppress the front passenger air bag if a child seat is in the front passenger seat. If the airbag deploys with a child seat in the front passenger seat it could increase the risk of injury to the child. The front-passenger airbag status light will indicate that the airbag is “on” when the passenger seat is not occupied or is occupied by an infant. Additionally, the front-passenger seat’s safety-belt warning light and chime may turn on when the passenger seat is not occupied and the seatbelt is not buckled. Continue reading
2010 Chevy Cobalt Airbag Could Disable
GM has decided that a defect relating to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt sedans and they will be asking approximately sixty thousand owners to return to their dealership for repairs. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, the side-impact sensor wire harness in the driver-side front door may have been improperly routed. The window regulator could contact the harness when the window is fully lowered and, over time, chafe the harness insulation. The problem could result in a short in the side-impact sensor circuit that will prevent the driver-side roof-rail airbag from deploying during a crash. Drivers will be alerted with an airbag warning light. Continue reading
