The Chevy Camaro is one of the many vehicles targeted by the six new GM recalls.
After a brief reprieve – and hints that the worst of its safety problems had ended – General Motors has announced another six recalls collectively covering more than 700,000 cars, trucks and crossovers.
The latest move brings to more than 26 million the total number of vehicles GM has recalled since the beginning of the year. And when added to the service actions announced by competitors as varied as Ford, BMW and Toyota, the industry overall is fast approaching the 45 million mark, well surpassing the previous record, set in 2004, when 34.1 million vehicles were called back for safety problems.
GM officials tried to put a positive spin on the latest action, global safety czar Jeff Boyer asserting that this goes to “signify how we’ve enhanced our approach to safety.”
But the seven new recalls also come as something of a setback for a company whose reputation had already taken a hammering during the first half of the year. By late June, GM officials had been dropping strong hints that they had largely addressed all the company’s outstanding safety problems.
(My car’s been recalled. Now what? Click Here to find out.)
The six new announcements total 717,950 vehicles all together. The individual recalls include:
* A seat adjuster bolt linked to one crash and three injuries. The largest of the new recalls, it covers 414,333 vehicles in all, including the 2011-12 Chevrolet Camaro; 2010-12 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain; 2011-12 Buick Regal and LaCrosse; and 2010-12 Cadillac SRX models;
* A separate seat issue caused by “an incomplete weld” that involves 120,426 vehicles. Though only 1% are likely to experience the problem, they will need to be brought to dealers for inspection. This recall covers the 2014 Chevrolet Caprice, 2014 Chevrolet SS, light-duty and heavy-duty 2014-15 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, 2013-14 Cadillac ATS, 2014 Cadillac CTS, 2014 Cadillac ELR and 2013-2014 Buick Encore;
* An electronic module that may not alert a motorist when a turn signal burns out. A total of 120,426 vehicles are covered, including the 2011-13 Buick Regal and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu:
* A manufacturing defect that could cause a temporary loss of power steering on 57,242 Chevrolet Impalas produced during the 2014 model-year. This defect has been blamed for one crash, but no injuries;
* A lower-control arm bolt that wasn’t properly fastened and could cause a loss of steering in 1,191 Chevrolet Spark minicars from the 2014 and 2015 model-years; and
* An improperly installed roof carrier on a total of just 22 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban and GMC Yukon and Yukon Denali SUVs produced the 2015 model-year.
(Chrysler recalling nearly 800,000 SUVs for ignition problems. For more, Click Here.)
GM’s recall problems have given the company a black eye – with separate Congressional investigations underway, along with a criminal probe by the Justice Department.
The recalls also led to a $1 billion write-down during the first quarter of 2014, with GM expected to take another $1.2 billion charge when it reports second-quarter earnings tomorrow. It has also unveiled a compensation fund for victims of the defective ignition switch recall announced in February. Linked to 13 deaths – though independent audits suggest there are more – the fund is expected to eventually pay out over $1 billion.
Surprisingly, the maker has seen minimal impact to new vehicle sales, at least through June, though analysts warn that the longer the recall blitz drags on, the more likely GM will eventually take a hit in the marketplace.
(Federal regulators are pushing for faster recalls, bigger fines. Click Here)