The "heat" on NHTSA because of Toyota lapses is forcing more recalls from all makers.
General Motors Company is recalling 1.5 million 2007-2009 model-year cars, trucks and crossover vehicles to disable a heated washer-fluid system module that goes up in flames.
Because the accessory will be disabled, GM says it will make a voluntary payment of $100 to the owner or lessee of each vehicle.
There are no known injuries or crashes related to the condition, according to GM.
However, a newly vigilant National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which slept through numerous reports of Toyota unintended acceleration deaths, is clearly a factor in this recall. (See NHTSA Ups Toyota Death Tally)
The heated washer fluid system was recalled in August 2008 because a short circuit on the printed circuit board could overheat the control-circuit ground wire. Dealers at the time installed an in-line fuse in the heated washer module wiring.
NHTSA closed its initial investigation after the 2008 recall.
GM says it continued to monitor the performance of the heated washer fluid module in the field and continued communications with NHTSA. In June 2009, GM identified a new and second failure mode with the first confirmed report consisting of smoke only. Since then, GM has been “made aware” of five fires.
NHTSA did nothing in 2009 , but given the seriousness of the defect and subsequent Congressional hearing criticism concerning the Toyota matter where NHTSA was accused of being a “lapdog” of the auto industry, a recall was inevitable. (See NHTSA Gets Tough – Forcing Recall of Cadillac SRX )
“While our analysis shows the number of incidents is very small compared with the number of vehicles on the road, we want our customers to have complete peace of mind,” said Jeff Boyer, executive director of Safety. “We always want to make sure customers can count on the safety and quality of their GM vehicle.”
Dealership technicians will remove the heated washer fluid module and reroute washer fluid hoses. Customers will begin receiving recall letters this month, but they can contact their dealer at any time to make an appointment to have the heated washer system removed, according to GM.
“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,” Boyer said. “We want to be clear that the voluntary payment to customers is for the loss of the feature, not the recall.”
Well, maybe but the supplier is out of business.
Models included in the recall are the 2006-2009 model year Buick Lucerne; Cadillac DTS; Hummer H2; 2008-2009 model year Buick Enclave; Cadillac CTS; 2007-2009 model year Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe; GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL; Saturn Outlook; and 2009 model year Chevrolet Traverse.
Most of the vehicles, 1,365,070, are in the United States. There are 98,794 affected vehicles in Canada; 26,228 in Mexico, and 38,093 exports.