More GM recalls announced

Despite being in the process of an investigation into it's response to it's recent recall involving a faulty ignition switch, General Motors (GM) have revealed three more discrete recalls. These new recalls affect 1,546,900 vehicles in the US, with almost 1.7 million affected overall.

The first GM recall

The first and largest of the three new recalls concerns 1.18 million Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia crossovers from the 2008-2013 model years, Chevrolet Traverse from 2009-2013 and Saturn Outlook from 2008-2010. This comes over concerns that all the crossover utilities may have an issue with the wiring harness for their seat mounted airbags. Apparently, the vehicles are equipped with a Service Air Bag warning light that, if ignored, "will eventually result in the non-deployment of the side impact restraints." Those restraints include the side airbags, a front-center airbag if the vehicle is so equipped and seatbelt pretensioners.

To solve the problem, dealers of affected vehicles will be instructed to remove driver and passenger side airbag wiring harness connectors and then “splice and solder the wires together.”

The second GM recall

The next new recall affects 303,000 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans from the 2009-2014 model years, and with a gross vehicle weight of under 10,000 pounds. This is because the vehicles do not comply with a head impact requirement for unrestrained occupants and will need a reworking of the instrument panel material to be sent back on the road. There does not appear to be a quick fix solution to this recall, with GM stating, “Unsold vehicles have been placed on a stop delivery until development of the solution has been completed and parts are available.”

The third GM recall

The final new recall affects 63,900 Cadillac XTS luxury sedans from 2013 and 2014. The possible problem with these models is that a brake booster pump may be susceptible to corrosion by way of the relay, potentially causing an electrical short, overheating, melting of plastic components and even engine fires. GM stated that it was aware of two engine fires in unsold XTS models and two cases of melted parts. Repairs for the issue have not been mentioned in the GM press release.

The Detroit News is also reporting that along with news of the triple-recall, GM is taking a $300-million credit to help pay for the repair costs, and to deal with the ongoing costs associated with the ignition switch recall.

We'll keep you updated on any news about GM's recalls as it becomes available.