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http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/business/09recall.html?src=mv
DETROIT — General Motors on Tuesday said that it was recalling 1.5 million cars and trucks from the 2006 to 2009 model years because their heated washer-fluid system could short circuit and cause a fire.
G.M. said that it was telling dealers to permanently disable the heated washer-fluid system, and that each affected owner would receive $100 to compensate for the loss of the feature.
About two-thirds of the vehicles were recalled two years ago for the same problem, but G.M. says it has received reports of overheating in modules that had new wiring installed under that recall. G.M. later stopped offering the heated washer-fluid system because the supplier that made it, Microheat, filed for bankruptcy and was liquidated as a result of the 2008 recall.
“This was a unique technology available from only one supplier, and that supplier has stopped manufacturing, which left no opportunity to collaborate on an improved design,” Jeff Boyer, G.M.’s executive director of safety, said in a statement. “We want to be clear that the voluntary payment to customers is for the loss of the feature, not the recall.”
The recall covers 15 models: the 2006 to 2009 Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS and Hummer H2; the 2007 to 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Avalanche, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Acadia, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and Saturn Outlook; the 2008 to 2009 Buick Enclave and Cadillac CTS; and the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse.
G.M. said customers would start getting letters explaining the recall this month but could contact their dealer at any time to schedule the repair.
G.M. said it had received reports of five fires but none involved injuries or crashes. All but 163,115 of the affected vehicles are in the United States.
The recall comes a day after Chrysler said it was recalling about 700,000 vehicles to fix brake or wiring problems and at a time of increased attention on vehicle defects because Toyota’s problems with unintended acceleration.
DETROIT — General Motors on Tuesday said that it was recalling 1.5 million cars and trucks from the 2006 to 2009 model years because their heated washer-fluid system could short circuit and cause a fire.
G.M. said that it was telling dealers to permanently disable the heated washer-fluid system, and that each affected owner would receive $100 to compensate for the loss of the feature.
About two-thirds of the vehicles were recalled two years ago for the same problem, but G.M. says it has received reports of overheating in modules that had new wiring installed under that recall. G.M. later stopped offering the heated washer-fluid system because the supplier that made it, Microheat, filed for bankruptcy and was liquidated as a result of the 2008 recall.
“This was a unique technology available from only one supplier, and that supplier has stopped manufacturing, which left no opportunity to collaborate on an improved design,” Jeff Boyer, G.M.’s executive director of safety, said in a statement. “We want to be clear that the voluntary payment to customers is for the loss of the feature, not the recall.”
The recall covers 15 models: the 2006 to 2009 Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS and Hummer H2; the 2007 to 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Avalanche, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Acadia, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and Saturn Outlook; the 2008 to 2009 Buick Enclave and Cadillac CTS; and the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse.
G.M. said customers would start getting letters explaining the recall this month but could contact their dealer at any time to schedule the repair.
G.M. said it had received reports of five fires but none involved injuries or crashes. All but 163,115 of the affected vehicles are in the United States.
The recall comes a day after Chrysler said it was recalling about 700,000 vehicles to fix brake or wiring problems and at a time of increased attention on vehicle defects because Toyota’s problems with unintended acceleration.
