Tag Archives: General Motors

GM Rivals Could See Onstar Soon

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OnStar will be expanding its customer base this spring as the popular safety and security technology company starts making their service available at more than 1,000 stores nationwide. The product will come as an installable rear view mirror that will be compatible with top selling vehicles including Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford F-Series trucks. The mirror will be selling for about $300 with a service plan of $18.95 a month or $200 a year. The same rate offered to GM OnStar subscribers.

The retail version will give drivers access to most of OnStar’s services, such as automatic crash detection, turn-by-turn directions, stolen vehicle location and the ability to reach an OnStar adviser by pushing a call button. Features such as remote starting, are being considered for the package, according to GM officials.

While some feel that Onstar advisers will become obsolete as voice recognition technology becomes better and more affordable, OnStar is teaming up with Verizon to take the OnStar service to the next level. With the Verizon 4G broadband network, high tech ideas such as tweeting, video chat and view live traffic camera images from behind the wheel is the aim of the partnership. OnStar and Verizon gave consumers a peek at what’s possible while unveiling a prototype Buick LaCrosse at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

GMC Recalls Cadillac Chevrolet and GMC Trucks

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GMC has announced a recall on certain 2011 trucks for rear axle cross pins that were not properly heat treated at the factory. The cross pins could break and become jammed within the rear axle causing the rear axle to lock up. The driver could loose directional control of their vehicle resulting in an accident and potential injuries. The vehicles affected by this recall are:

  • 2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  • 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche
  • 2011 Chevrolet Silverado LD
  • 2011 GMC Sierra LD

Owner receiving a recall notice can take their vehicles to their nearest dealer where a new rear axle cross pin will be installed, free of charge. For more information contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at 1-866-996-9463 and at the GMC owner center at www.gmownercenter.com. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) vehicle safety hot line at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

GM Recalls Crossovers For Seat Belts

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A seat belt problem found in some GM crossovers has lead the automaker to issue a recall that could affect almost 100,000 vehicles. GM reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that during component testing, it was found that some crossover vehicles may have seat belt anchors that could break during a high impact situation. The problem, which could affect both the driver and passenger front seats is being blamed on an unauthorized change to the anchoring tooling. The vehicles affected by this recall are:

  • 2011 Cadillac SRX
  • 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  • 2011 GMC Terrain

Owners can contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and GMC at 1-866-996-9463 with questions or concerns. They can also consult the GM owner center website at www.gmownercenter.com.

NHTSA Investigates GM Medium Duty Trucks

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fan blade separation investigation into GMC trucksThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into General Motors 2006 medium duty commercial trucks which include the Chevrolet Kodiak W4500 and W5500, GMC TopKick C4500 and C5500 and Isuzu 4500 and 5000 Series. There have been no injuries to date, but several complaints of fan blades separating from the vehicle have been reported. The problem is being blamed on flexible fan blades that may develop cracks over time. If the investigation should lead to a recall, almost 60,000 medium duty trucks could be affected.

Recalled Child Restraints In GM Trucks

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No injuries have been reported, but after concerns were raised by Transport Canada, GM has decided to recall almost 200,000 pickup trucks for an inadequate child restraint system in trucks without rear seats. The vehicles involved in the recall are:

  • 2004-2011 Chevrolet Colorado
  • 2004-2011 GMC Canyon regular cab
  • 2004-2011 GMC Canyon extended cab
  • 2007-2008 Isuzu I-290/I-370
  • 2006 Isuzu I-280/I-350

According to GM, “The child restraint top tether anchor for the front center seat position is not accessible for installing a child seat”, so the child restraint may not be properly secured.”

Customers will be mailed an owner’s manual supplement that describes how to install a child restraint using a top tether in the center position. Dealers will modify the back panel trim cover to allow access to the top tether anchor, if requested by the customer.

LA Auto Show Speeds Into The Electric Car Era

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The sales of electric cars may not be doing as well as first hoped, but the displays at this years Los Angeles Auto Show hopes to change that. GM’s Chevrolet Volt, the 2011 Green Car of the Year, is one of several displays that hope to spark interest in the sales of green cars. The Volts rival, the Nissan leaf, along with Tesla’s Toyota RAV4 EV, the Fisker Karma, the Mitsubishi I-MiEV, and every other car maker’s electric or hybrid car will be there vying for the green consumers interest.

This year’s show will feature a record of debuts with fifty new vehicles unveiled on press day. This year’s show features more elaborate and interactive exhibits and more manufacturers, making it one of the most dynamic LA Auto Shows in years. The annual event, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center and will be open to the public November 19-28.

Demand For GM Stocks Increase Offering

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A perceived demand for GM stocks has led the company to bump up the price of its upcoming share offering. The previous estimate of $26-$29 has increased to $32-$33. The automobile manufacturer has also increased the size of its preferred shares offering from 60 million to 80 million. At the current pricing, GM could raise nearly 18 billion dollars, which would help repay some of the 50 billion dollar taxpayer bailout.

According to Michelle Krebs, senior analyst at Edmunds.com, “The increased share pricing is a vote of confidence in the company and in the stock it is offering. It is a sign that the management of General Motors has done an extremely good job pitching the stock to investors and highlighting its positives over its challenges.” Strong sales on new cars and trucks helped General Motors earn $2 billion in the third quarter. Boosted by higher prices from newly introduced models and from overseas sales, the third quarter earnings nearly matched the first two quarters of the year combined.

Not everyone feel that the stock offering is ready. Consumer advocate Ralph Nader and two other consumer groups are asking that the government delay the offering in hopes of getting a better return. They say the offering is oversubscribed and a plague of accounting errors by GM, pose a risk factor to the IPO.

According to an Automotive News source, Chinese companies are among a handful of firms looking for a stake in GM. Others include European industrial groups, private equity firms and sovereign wealth funds. GM CEO Fritz Henderson acknowledged talks are ongoing between GM and six Opel/Vauxhall suitors, but couldn’t reveal any names because of a confidentiality agreement.

Buick And Cadillac Recalled For Engine Fires

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General Motors is recalling almost 14,000 2010-2011 Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS automobiles in the United States for a problem with the power steering. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there have not been any injuries related to the problem but there have been four reported fires.

After investigation, GM found that the starter and alternator cables were installed too close to the power steering conduit. The contact between the cables wore the conduit and wire insulation, resulting in an ignition source for the leaking steering fluid. The worn lines could also lead to a battery short.

Dealers will inspect and re-route harnesses in the recalled vehicles, as well as hold any unsold cars under the recall until the inspections and rectification can be made.