Worn Seat-belt Cables Deemed Unsafe

This round of recalls lists model years 2009-2014 for the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and the Chevrolet Traverse. 1.3 Million units have been deemed unsafe due to unusual seat belt cable wear. Also included for the same issue are Saturn Outlook SUVs for model years 2009-2010. GM has been forced to issue a Stop-Sale policy to all of its dealers. The plan for now is to develop a plan that will allow the vehicles to be inspected and repaired in an efficient process. Sadly, the parts needed to make these vehicles safe are not available.

Faulty Shifter Cable Disables Automatic Transmissions

2004-2008 Chevy Malibu and 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 were named as part of this current recall by GM. 1.1 Million units are affected. The specific transmission affected is the 4-speed Automatic. The shift cable wears over time creating number of problems. Those problems range from not being able to change gears while driving, putting the car in park, or removing the keys from the ignition. The car’s transmission must be in the park position before the keys can be removed. Other vehicles listed in an earlier recall for this problem include the 2007-2008 Saturn Aura. This recall takes on a different tone. 18 automobile accidents are linked to this issue with the Malibu and the G6. An additional 28 automobile accidents are linked to the Saturn Aura. Four Saturn accidents involved injuries. The number of accidents may grow with time.

Faulty Passenger Airbag Halts Sale and Delivery of Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV models

This recall has put a stop to the 2015 Cadillac Escalade sales just one month after the latest luxury SUV hit the market. The problem is a faulty side passenger airbag, which GM says may not fully inflate during an accident. The recall prompted General Motors to issue letters to all customers who have purchased a 2015 Cadillac Escalade to not allow anyone to sit on the passenger side until the airbag can be replaced.

Retention Clips Pose Potential Fire Hazard

This recall also affects only 2015 models of Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD trucks. In fact, only 58 trucks are affected. The problem is that the fuse box, which is housed under the hood may have faulty retention clips. The fuse box, which attaches to the body of the truck could cause a fire if it were to come loose.

The Blame and The Cost

During this round of recalls, 2.42 million vehicles produced by General Motors have been recalled. The financial damage could have been far greater than the $400 million dollars that General Motors has estimated this set of recalls to cost. Two recalls only affect 2015 models and the number of models sold is fairly low. The problem is that if these 2015 models are not serviced soon, then the entire sales year may be at risk and that can negatively affect the brand and corporate profits. The total number of General Motors vehicles recalled since January totals 13.6 million units. The recalls affect only for vehicles sold in the Unites States.

Not all of these recalls are clean. Vehicles listed in an earlier recall are linked to 13 deaths. Currently, General Motors is in the midst of an internal investigation dealing with their own handling of these problems. The cost for this overall set of safety problems has already cost General Motors $35 Million in fines to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The issues that revolve around these safety issues are not dead. The fine only opens up a door that General Motors may not be able to afford to have opened. General Motors does not stand alone in the blame for these safety issues, injuries and even death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also partially to blame. There is an echo that escapes this situation that peals throughout the entire U.S Government. The departments that were designed to oversee the safety of the public have grown lax and are staffed with members of the very industries they are supposed to watch. According to NBC news, The National Highway Traffic Administrated was warned by advocates about many of these issues. Further, the NHTSA limits what complaints it deems valid. It dismisses claims by consumer groups. No, General Motors does not stand alone in this financial and public safety mess. The real question is what is the Federal Government going to do to clean up its own safety problems.