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 The recalls of Cadillac and Saab SUVs and Chevrolet Spark small
cars raise the No. 1 U.S. automaker's total number of recalls this
year to 71, affecting almost 30 million vehicles. The highest
profile is the recall affecting 2.6 million cars with defective
ignition switches linked to at least 23 deaths.
GM said it is recalling 430,550 Cadillac SRX and Saab 9-4X SUVs for
possible loose joint and worn threads in the rear toe link assembly
that could cause the vehicle to wander at highway speed and if it
separates, increasing the risk of a crash.
GM said it was aware of three crashes and two injuries as a result
of the issue.
Dealers will replace the SUVs' rear toe link assembly as needed. The
recall affects SRX SUVs from model years 2010 through 2015 and 9-4X
SUVs from 2011 and 2012 model years.
Of the recalled SUVs, 290,107 are in the United States and the rest
are in Canada, Mexico and are exports.
The Detroit company also recalled 93,834 newer Chevrolet Spark cars
because corrosion can cause the secondary hood latch striker to
stick in the open position, increasing the risk of the hood opening
unexpectedly during driving and increasing the risk of a crash. The
cars are built in South Korea.
GM said it was not aware of any crashes, injuries or deaths related
to this issue, but in documents filed with U.S. safety regulators at
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration it cited two
cases in the United Kingdom and one in Denmark where the vehicle
hood opened while the customer was driving.
During its investigation, GM said it discovered the suspect
secondary hood latch failed a 10-year component level corrosion test
in November 2013, according to documents filed with NHTSA. By
February 2014, GM said it determined that the anticorrosion coating
was deficient and it began applying a different coating in late
July.
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GM's investigation revealed 10 warranty cases in the United States
with premature corroding of secondary hood latches, according to the
NHTSA documents.
The cars affected by the recall are from the 2013 through 2015 model
years.
About 13,000 of the affected cars are still at U.S. dealers and will
not be sold until they are repaired, GM said. Of the cars recalled,
89,294 are in the United States, with the rest in Canada, Mexico and
exports.
Customers will be notified and dealers will replace the cars' hood
strikers when parts are available, GM said.
(Reporting by Ben Klayman in Detroit; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
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