General Motors has smashed its own record: the automaker had already recalled more cars than it sold globally in all of 2013, but this week’s five recalls add another 2.7 million cars to the pile. The 2014 total now sits at 11.1 million recalled vehicles in the U.S. and 12.8 million worldwide. GM sold roughly 9.7 million vehicles around the globe last year. Oh, and it also just earned a $35 million fine from its friends in the federal government.
Of the latest total, 2.44 million have electrical problems that can cause the brake lights to quit or flash intermittently without the brakes being applied, in addition to malfunctions with the cruise control, brake-shift interlock, and multiple safety features like stability control and panic-brake assist. The 2004–2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2002–2007 Malibu Maxx, 2005–2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007–2010 Saturn Aura are affected. GM had previously recalled 8000 G6 models for the problems in 2009 after issuing a technical service bulletin in 2008. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which opened an investigation in February 2013, GM continued to record about 1100 complaints and more than 14,000 related warranty claims. GM, in a statement, said it had known of 13 related crashes and two injuries resulting from the defect.
Another 111,889 C6 Corvettes from 2005–2007 are being recalled for low-beam headlamp failures, an issue which the NHTSA had been investigating since May 2013. An electrical control box under the hood can expand from the engine’s heat and cause a headlamp wire to bend and separate, cutting the low-beam lights entirely. When it cools, the lights can return to normal. GM also said it would make repairs free of charge on later 2008–2013 Corvettes without a formal recall.
GM is recalling the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu for a software error that can cause a sudden loss of power brake assist. A total of 140,067 cars are affected, all of which have the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and engine stop-start functionality. GM said it was aware of four crashes that may be related and no injuries.
Next up: Certain 2013–2014 Cadillac CTS models have windshield wipers that can stop working if the vehicles are jump started while the wipers are caught by heavy ice or snow. The wiper modules will be replaced on 19,225 cars. The 2014 CTS sedan is new and doesn’t appear to be affected; the 2014 models indicated are likely coupes and/or wagons based on the previous car. No crashes or injuries have been reported.
Finally, a total of 477 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups and 2015 Chevrolet Tahoes, have tie rods that weren’t tightened to spec and can loosen from the steering rack and—obviously—cause a loss of steering. Customers are being contacted to have their vehicles flat-bedded to a dealer for inspection and possible repair. GM recalled the Chevrolet Cruze in 2011 for loose steering shafts and possible steering failure.
- GM Recalls: Everything You Need to Know
- Malibu in the Middle: 2014 Chevrolet Malibu 2.5 Tested
- First Drive: 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe
Since GM has become the target of four separate federal investigations, the automaker has been slowly crossing off vehicles on NHTSA’s to-do list of defect investigations by recalling the. Two still remain, including 1.77 million full-size SUVs and pickup trucks from 1999–2003 for brake line corrosion that can lead to increased stopping distances—a NHTSA investigation ongoing since 2010—and an investigation of the 2014 Chevrolet Impala for a faulty automatic braking system.
Regarding the ignition-switch recall of the Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Ion, and others, GM said it would have enough replacement parts by October to fix all of the 2.6 million cars affected. The automaker said its supplier Delphi “pulled machinery out of storage and found new suppliers for some of the part components” to meet production demands.
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