GM Enacts Massive, Fire-Related Recall, And It's Not Volt Related

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

GM is recalling 475,418 Chevrolet Cruze models built in the USA as a preventative measure against possible engine fires.

The recall affects all U.S. manufactured Cruzes, which includes all Cruzes sold in the United States, Canada and Israel. The defect is related to an engine heat shield that could cause improperly changed engine oil or hydraulic fluid to heat up via the shield, leading to an engine fire. Recall notices will go out starting July 11th, and should take only 30 minutes at a dealership. A further 61,000 cars will be inspected due to the possibility of improper welds on the fuel tank.

Only two engine fires have been reported so far, but the Cruze has had numerous recalls in its relatively short life. In May 2011, GM recalled all 154,000 Cruzes on the road in the United States and Canada to check for an improperly installed steering shaft, while a recall that same month was issued regarding the shift linkage.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Geozinger Geozinger on Jun 24, 2012

    GM recalls = lotsa clicks. I'm one of the Pavlovian responders myself. I think that unless it's a recall on the scale of the Audi or Toyota levels, it shouldn't be posted here. Those were noteworthy for reasons far beyond the technical. I've often thought that TTAC loves GM, by pretending to hate GM. Click click click, doggies... No other articles get the levels of response unless GM is in the headline somewhere. Nowhere in any media does it say whether or not this is a voluntary recall. I would imagine that it is, but there's no information. FWIW, I'd rather have the company address the issues with the car rather than declaring it as a 'service campaign', like other manufacturers do. While a service campaign is a legality regarding recalls, there's no other way to ensure that the most numbers of cars will be modified without a recall; i.e., Ford's famous flaming ignition switches from a while back. Woof!

    • Pig_Iron Pig_Iron on Jun 24, 2012

      "I’ve often thought that TTAC loves GM, by pretending to hate GM." I seem to remember Farago saying something to the effect that they don't hate GM, they just expect GM to walk it's own talk.

  • Forraymond Forraymond on Jun 24, 2012

    With the editor having been a marketing manager at one point, I suppose you might be correct about getting viewership up. Shi**y way to do it, but probably effective.

  • Alluster Alluster on Jun 24, 2012

    Obligatory... Narrator: A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph. The rear differential locks up. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one. Business woman on plane: Are there a lot of these kinds of accidents? Narrator: You wouldn't believe. Business woman on plane: Which car company do you work for? Narrator: A major one.

  • APaGttH APaGttH on Jun 29, 2012

    So since TTAC appears to be covering, "significant" recalls - are we going to see a story on today's Toyota floor mat/gas pedal recall for binding gas pedals on 2009 and 2010 Lexus vehicles - impacting 154K units after customer complaints??? I mean isn't a revisit of the NHTSA witch hunt and this new recall, "significant," given that this story dominated TTAC for over two years???

    • NormSV650 NormSV650 on Jun 29, 2012

      Got love weekend data dumps. Especially one before a major holiday. Instead we have multi page reviews and series about Toyota cars and their engineers. Especially considering Toyota wasn't No. 1 in recalls last year, Honda was. Toyota was the year before.

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