GM recalling 1.5M vehicles to fix windshield fluid system over fire concerns
Posted June 8, 2010 11:16 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
WASHINGTON – General Motors is recalling about 1.5 million vehicles worldwide – 94,000 of which in Canada – to address a problem with a heated windshield wiper fluid system that could lead to a fire.
However, GM Canada’s Tony Larocca told 680News that the issue is so minor, those who own GM vehicles do not need to stop using them.
“The concern is, frankly, that under rare circumstances, we could see a thermal incident. Wherever there is a potential fire risk like that, we air on the side of safety. There have only been a handful of incidents – none in this country,” he said.
“The incidence is exceptionally rare, so this isn’t something where we expect people with this feature to be experiencing problems, but we’re airing on the side of safety and they can visit their dealer to have it very quickly remedied.”
The recall affects several pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and passenger car models from the 2006 to 2009 model years.
GM conducted a similar recall in 2008 but came across new reports of fires in vehicles that had been fixed.
GM plans to disable the heated washer fluid system module that could lead to fires. GM will pay owners and those leasing vehicles $100 since the feature is being disabled.
“What we’re going to do is deactivate the system. The supplier that made it is no longer in business, and because we’re removing a feature from our customers, we’re going to compensate them for the value of that feature,” said Larocca.
GM says there are no known injuries or crashes reported. However, the company is aware of five fires.
The recall affects the 2006-2009 model year Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS, Hummer H2; the 2008-2009 model year Buick Enclave and Cadillac CTS; the 2007-2009 model year Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL, Saturn Outlook and the 2009 model year Chevrolet Traverse.
Of the 1.5 million vehicles covered, GM said 1,365,070 are in the United States, with 98,794 in Canada, 26,228 in Mexico and 38,093 exports.
