AUGUST 2008 -- GM is recalling 857,735 MY 2006-2008 Buick Lucerne; Cadillac DTS; Hummer H2; MY 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe; GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL, Saturn Outlook; and MY 2008 Buick Enclave vehicles equipped with a heated wiper washer fluid system. A short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater may overheat the control-circuit ground wire. This may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor, or cause smoke increasing the risk of a fire. Dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule.  08V441

AUGUST 2008 -- GM is recalling 88,809 MY 2008 Buick Enclave, and MY 2007-2008 GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook vehicles currently or previously registered in the following states: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia. If a buildup of snow or ice on the windshield or on the wipers restricts the movement of the wiper arm, the windshield wiper linkage may become detached from the motor shaft and the wipers may become inoperative. If this were to occur, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a vehicle crash. Dealers will install a new wiper crank arm, driver's side link, and a crank arm nut. The recall is expected to begin during October 2008.  08V-410

JULY 2008 --  GM is recalling 151 MY 2008 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles equipped with all wheel drive (AWD). Some of these vehicles have transfer cases that were manufactured with an incorrect part that can cause early failure of a drive chain. If the chain breaks, shifting the transmission to park may not keep the vehicle stationary. If the vehicle is parked on an incline or bumped, it may roll and strike a person, object, or another vehicle without warning, and cause personal injury. Dealers will inspect the transfer case date code and, if necessary, replace the transfer case. The recall is expected to begin during August 2008.  08V340

JULY 2008 --  GM is recalling 2,481 MY 2008 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana cutaway fleet vans equipped with a 6.0l (RPO LY6) V8 engine, 4l80E (RPO MT) transmission, 4.10 (RPO GT5) axle and 75 mph governor (RPO 9D7). These vehicles have a condition in which the transmission may be damaged due to first gear engagement at highway speeds and then does not transmit power with ‘D4’ or ‘R’ selected. This may be preceded by engine shutdown if the vehicle exceeds 81 miles per hour in certain conditions. The vehicle may be stranded on or near a highway, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will reprogram the transmission and engine control modules. The recall is expected to begin during August 2008.  08V313

JULY 2008 --  GM is recalling 567 MY 2008 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana cutaway vehicles with a 139" wheel base. The frame rail on the driver's side may be wider than specifications. If the frame rail is wider, over time it may contact the fuel tank housing, resulting in a possible fuel leak. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire. Dealers will inspect the clearance between the frame rail and fuel tank housing and will rework the frame rail if necessary. The recall is expected to begin during August 2008.   08V315

August 2007 -- GM is recalling 10,113 MY 2007 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savanna vans for failing to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." When the brakes are applied, the stop lamps will illuminate. When the brake pedal is released, the stop lamps are no longer illuminated but the rear brakes may still be applied. The brake may release after a few seconds or after the next firm brake pedal application. If the rear brakes are still applied after release of the brake pedal, the driver may notice a substantial drag when driving and may need to depress the gas pedal further than usual to continue vehicle movement. A vehicle driven with the brakes applied can cause overheating of the brakes, resulting in increased stopping distance which could result in a crash. Dealers will reprogram the anti-lock brake system module. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule for this campaign. 07V-342

NOVEMBER 2007 -- GM is recalling 11,975 MY 2001 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks equipped with an 8.1L V8 engine. The crankshaft position can operate intermittently or fail completely. If the sensor operates intermittently, the SES light may illuminate and the vehicle may run rough. The engine may stall, and if so, may re-start immediately or after a cool down period. If the sensor becomes completely inoperative, the engine will quit running and will not re-start. Either of these failures can increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the crankshaft position sensor. The recall is expected to begin during December 2007. This recall was the subject of an Engineering Analysis, EA06-016, conducted by the Office of Defects Investigation. 07V521

NEWS:    GM recalls 944,000 vehicles for fire hazard

Recall involves vehicles that are equipped with windshield washer fluid heaters.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- August 28, 2008 -- General Motors is recalling 944,000 vehicles, 850,000 of them in the United States, because of the potential for a fire in the vehicles' heated windshield washer fluid system.

A short circuit in the circuit board that controls the system could cause a grounding wire to overheat. That could lead to smoke and the malfunctioning of other electrical components, GM (GM, Fortune 500) said in a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In rare cases, it could cause a fire, GM said.

GM is aware of three fires caused by this problem, two of which were in the company's own test fleet vehicles, GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson said. The company is not aware of any injuries caused by the problem.

The vehicles must be turned on for the short circuit to occur, Wilkinson said, but he could not say whether the washer fluid heating system needed to be in use.

The models listed below, if they're equipped with a heated windshield washer fluid system, are subject to the recall:

The fluid heating system is a popular option on many of GM's large cars and SUVs, said Wilkinson.

On cold days, the system heats windshield washer fluid before spraying it onto the windshield, where it can melt ice and frost on the windshield.

To fix the problem, dealers will install a fuse that will shut off the system in the event of a short circuit. GM has not yet provided NHTSA with a schedule detailing when owners of affected vehicles will be notified.

MORE RECALL INFORMATION:

• Buick Lucerne

• Buick Enclave

• Cadillac DTS

• Cadillac Escalade

• Chevrolet Avalanche

• Chevrolet Silverado

• Chevrolet Suburban

• Chevrolet Tahoe

• GMC Acadia

• GMC Sierra

• GMC Yukon

• Saturn Outlook

NEWS:    GM Recalls Buicks, GMCs, Saturns to Fix Wipers

ConsumerAffairs.com -- August 28, 2008 -- General Motors is recalling 88,809 of the 2008 Buick Enclaves, 2007 to 2008 GMC Acadias and Saturn Outlooks to repair the windshield wipers.

The recall involves GM vehicles currently or previously registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia.

The buildup of snow or ice on the windshield or wipers could restrict the movement of the wiper arm, according to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) Web site.

"The wiper link may become detached from the motor shaft and the wipers many become inoperative," the safety agency warned, causing poor visibility and perhaps resulting in a crash.

GM dealers will install new parts required to remedy the windshield wiper defect when the recall gets underway in October.

Consumers can contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080, GMC at 1-866-996-9463, and Saturn at 1-800- 972-8876.

More Recall Information:

• Buick Enclave

• GMC Acadia

• Saturn Outlook

NEWS:    NHTSA Investigates 2.7 Million GM Trucks, SUVs

Fire hazard probed in 21 models

ConsumerAffairs.com -- June 17, 2008 -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has intensified a investigation of 21 models of General Motors trucks and SUVS manufactured between 2006 and 2008 because of the possibility of an engine compartment fire.

More than 2,700,000 GM trucks and SUVs are the subject of the the investigation because of the possibility that a fire might erupt inside the engine compartment, even when the ignition is turned off.

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) at the federal safety agency reported that investigators are now aware of "41 non-crash engine compartment fires" in the GM trucks and SUVs including 8 fires that may have caused significant property damage.

The GM vehicles under investigation are:

• Cadillac Escalade ESV and EXT from the 2007 and 2008 model years
• Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 from the 2007 and 2008 model years
• 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche 2500
• 2007 Chevrolet Silverado
• Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 from the 2007 and 2008 model years
• Chevrolet Suburban 1500 and 2500 from the 2007 and 2008 model years
• Chevrolet Tahoe from the 2007 and 2008 models year
• 2008 GMC Sierra,
• GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 from the 2007 and 2008 model years
• 2007 GMC Sierra Classic
• 2007 GMC Silverado, GMC Yukon from the 2007 and 2008 model years
• GMC Yukon XL 1500, XL 2500 from the 2007 and 2008 model years
• Hummer H2 from the 2006 to 2007 model years
• 2008 Hummer H2 Utility, and •the Hummer H2 from the 2006 to 2008 model years

"GM provided ODI with 41 allegations of non-crash engine compartment fires including 16 allegations of fires origination with the ignition in the off position," according to the NHTSA Web site.

Investigators are examining the electrical system, engine and engine cooling system; battery cables; under-hood wiring, fuses and circuit breakers.

NHTSA investigator are now call the probe an "engineering analysis" which could eventually lead to a recall of the General Motors trucks and SUVs.

MORE RECALL INFORMATION:

• Cadillac Escalade

• Chevrolet Avalanche

• Chevrolet Silverado

• Chevrolet Suburban

• Chevrolet Tahoe

• GMC Sierra

• GMC Yukon

• Hummer H2

NEWS:    Feds Probe Fire Complaints in Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon

ConsumerAffairs.Com -- February 9, 2008 --  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating two consumer complaints that 2007 Chevrolet Tahoes and GMC Yukons caught fire while parked in home garages with the engines off.

The truck owners reported to NHTSA that both homes were badly damaged and two people were injured in one of the fires.

The NHTSA Office of Defect Investigations as open a preliminary investigation of both vehicles that could eventually lead to a recall of the SUVs. The agency estimates as many as 400,000 vehicles would be affected if a defect is identified and a recall ordered.

The General Motors SUVs are not equipped with the type of cruise control system that causes a fire in Ford Motor Co. cars and trucks. Ford has recalled more than 10 million vehicles because of a fire danger.

NHTSA also reported on its web site that a preliminary investigation is under way of 2006 Lamborghini Gallardos following three reports of fires. There are 600 of the Gallardos cars on U.S. roads.

More Recall Information:   GMC Yukon  -   Chevy Tahoe

NEWS:   GM recalls pickups, SUVs

Detroit Free Press -- November 20, 2007 --  General Motors Corp. recalled 69,000 Chevrolet, GMC and Pontiac pickups and SUVs and more than 20,000 Saturn cars for repairs including adding interior safety foam and fixing a timing chain.

The recall by the world's largest automaker covers 57,100 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent SUVs from the 2007 model year, and 11,974 2001-model Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks and 20,514 Saturn L-Series cars, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its Web site.

GM will install extra foam in the windshield pillars of the Equinox and Torrent SUVs that aren't equipped with roof air bags or a sunroof, to lessen the risk of head injury during a crash, according to the NHTSA.

In 2.2-liter, four-cylinder versions of the Saturn cars, GM will replace the engine's timing chain, which could separate while the motor is running and boost the chance of a crash. For 8.1-liter, eight-cylinder versions of the Silverado and Sierra, GM will replace the crankshaft position sensor, which can fail and stall the engine.

NEWS:    GM Recalls 30,000-Plus SUVs, Vans