In the wake of the ignition switch recall that has left service departments backlogged with work and customers waiting anxiously for parts, today GM announced five new safety recalls covering a total of nearly three million vehicles:
- 2,440,524 previous generation passenger cars for taillamp malfunctions
- 111,889 previous generation Chevrolet Corvettes for loss of low-beam head lamps
- 140,067 Chevrolet Malibus from the 2014 model year for hydraulic brake booster malfunctions
- 19,225 Cadillac CTS 2013-2014 models for windshield wiper failures
- 477 full-size trucks from the 2014 and 2015 model years for a tie-rod defect that can lead to a crash
Of particular interest to our readers is the Corvette recall, which directly affects 2005-2007 model years – while 2008-2013 cars aren’t officially recalled, they will still be covered by a Customer Satisfaction Program at no cost to the owners. Per the announcement, the recall addresses a potential loss of low-beam headlights.
“When the engine is warm, the underhood electrical center housing could expand, causing the headlamp low-beam relay control circuit wire to bend slightly. After the wire is repeatedly bent, it can fracture and separate. When this occurs, the low-beam headlamps will not illuminate. As the housing cools and contracts, the low-beam headlamp function may return. This condition does not affect the high-beam headlamps, marker lamps, turn signals, daytime running lamps or fog lamps. Loss of low beam headlamps when they are required could reduce the driver’s visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.”
The announcement goes on to add, “GM is aware of several hundred complaints as result of the condition but no crashes, injuries or fatalities.”
The Cadillac recall deals with a problem that affects the windshield wipers on 2013-2014 CTS models, but only under very specific circumstances…
“…the windshield wiper system may become inoperable after a vehicle jump start with wipers active and restricted, such as by ice and snow.”
For more information on recall specifics, please read the full announcement on GM’s official site.