GM Recall

[HSVKILLA]

DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Co is recalling 1.3 million compact cars in North America to address a power steering problem that has been linked to 14 crashes and one injury, the company said on Tuesday.

U.S. safety regulators opened an investigation on January 27 into approximately 905,000 Cobalt models in the United States after receiving more than 1,100 complaints of power steering failures. The complaints included 14 crashes and one injury.

The recall covers the 2005-2010 model year Chevrolet Cobalt and 2007-2010 Pontiac G5 in the United States; 2005-2006 Pontiac Pursuit sold in Canada, and the 2005-2006 Pontiac G4 sold in Mexico, GM said in a statement.

GM said it told the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the voluntary recall on Monday after concluding its own investigation that began in 2009.

GM said the affected vehicles can be still be "safely controlled" but it may require greater steering effort under 15 mph. Drivers will see a warning light and hear a chime if the power steering fails.

"After our in-depth investigation, we found that this is a condition that takes time to develop. It tends to occur in older models out of warranty," GM Vice President of Quality Jamie Hresko said in the statement.

"Recalling these vehicles is the right thing to do for our customers' peace of mind," he said.

GM said it is currently developing a remedy to fix the problem and will notify customers when the plan is finalized.

The recall comes at a time of heighten public and regulatory scrutiny over vehicle safety issues in the wake of massive recalls by Toyota Motor Corp.

Toyota global quality control chief Shinichi Sasaki and North American President Yoshimi Inaba are scheduled to appear before a Senate committee on Tuesday for a third hearing on its handling of consumer complaints about sudden acceleration.

[TUF_302]

Must be year of the recall lol!

[XR8putts]

More good news for Ford I'd say.

[vztrt]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/59667/gm...1-3m-vehicles/

GM recalling 1.3 million vehicles

March 4, 2010 by Adam Marshall

Over 1.3 million General Motors compact cars are involved in a recall in North America due to a power steering problem which has been linked to 14 crashes and one injury.

Approximately 905,000 Cobalt models are being investigated by the U.S. safety regulators after receiving over 1,100 complaints of power steering failures which include 14 crashes.

The cars involved have a manufacture date between 2005-2010 for the Chevrolet Cobolt and 2007-2010 for the Pontiac G5 in the U.S. For Canada the 2005-2006 Pontiac Pursuit and in Mexico the 2005-2006 Pontiac G4.

Once GM finished its investigation which began in 2009 it informed the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the voluntary recall.

GM said the affected vehicles can still be driven safely, if the power steering fails greater effort is needed to steer the car when driven below 15 mph (24 kmh). A warning light and chime will indicate the driver of the failure.

“After our in-depth investigation, we found that this is a condition that takes time to develop. It tends to occur in older models out of warranty,” GM Vice President of Quality Jamie Hresko said in the statement.

“Recalling these vehicles is the right thing to do for our customers’ peace of mind,” he said.

GM are in the middle of developing a fix and customers will be informed when ready.

With the massive recall by Toyota still in the news both the public and motoring regulators are more sensitive and are treating all recalls seriously.

[vztrt]

Now GM recalls 1.3 million cars

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2576DB001B5985

Power steering failures force recall of compact Chevs, Pontiacs in North America

3 March 2010

By RON HAMMERTON

GENERAL Motors is the latest US car-maker to get caught up in safety issues, recalling 1.3 million cars in North America to address power-steering failures that have caused 14 crashes with one injury.

While the recall is dwarfed by Toyota’s global 8.5 million-vehicle recall to fix unintended acceleration and braking problems, GM could do without the negative publicity as it battles its economic woes and watches Ford steal its number-one sales status in the US.

The issue is further compounded by the fact that even though GM has ordered the recall, it does yet not have a fix, saying it will notify owners when it has one.

The good news is that the recall thus far has been limited to North America, ensnaring the compact 2005-10 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2007-10 Pontiac G5 in the US, Pontiac Pursuit in Canada and Pontiac G4 in Mexico.

GM could, no doubt, feel the hot breath of US safety regulators on the back of its neck after the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into the compact cars in January after receiving 1100 owner complaints of power steering failure.

GM said it had already been investigating the issue, and had now advised NHTSA that a recall had been ordered.

Most of the recalled vehicles are Chev Cobalts, with more than 900,000 being ordered back to the dealer.

GM Vice President of Quality Jamie Hresko said the problem tended to develop in older cars.

"While greater steering effort under 15mph (25km/h) may be required, if the customer experiences loss of power steering assist, it is important to note that the vehicle can still be safely controlled because the customer can still steer the vehicle,” Mr Hresko said.

“When the condition occurs, both a chime will sound and a ‘Power Steering’ message will be displayed.”

[Ohio XB]

GM Vice President of Quality Jamie Hresko said the problem tended to develop in older cars.

That's padding to lessen the pain.

In 2007 people were experiencing this problem with their 1 and 2 year old cars with between 20 - 44K miles on them. Cars had been fixed multiple times and GM had to know there was a problem. The fault, I have heard from a GM employee, is with the Denso motor that provides the power assist.


Steve

[Stoney!]

LOLOLOL and Denso is owned by Toyota, it gets better.... lol

I don't think this is good news for Ford as their image is being tarnished at this point on taking to long to recall dangerous cars, I.E. territory's ball joins and brake issues in the falcon (since rectified but took way too long) Seems ford thinks not calling a recall will tarnish their image less than the media hype surrounding dangerous cars not being fixed..... they were msitaken!

Stoney!

[cosmo20btt]

Originally Posted by Stoney!

LOLOLOL and Denso is owned by Toyota, it gets better.... lol

I don't think this is good news for Ford as their image is being tarnished at this point on taking to long to recall dangerous cars, I.E. territory's ball joins and brake issues in the falcon (since rectified but took way too long) Seems ford thinks not calling a recall will tarnish their image less than the media hype surrounding dangerous cars not being fixed..... they were msitaken!

Stoney!

Ford has a sort of recall as they will replace ball joints for free if you bring it in for service, as they are now replacing the upgrade ball joint outside of the normal warranty.
http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2576D80081478F

[Wally]

Originally Posted by Stoney!

LOLOLOL and Denso is owned by Toyota, it gets better.... lol

I don't think this is good news for Ford as their image is being tarnished at this point on taking to long to recall dangerous cars, I.E. territory's ball joins and brake issues in the falcon (since rectified but took way too long) Seems ford thinks not calling a recall will tarnish their image less than the media hype surrounding dangerous cars not being fixed..... they were msitaken!

Stoney!

Congressional hearings and cameras are the new weapon of the NHTSA, so fixing faults has taken on a new imperative.

There are always smoking guns e.g.

http://www.lemonauto.com/complaints/...d_explorer.htm