General Motors is taking no chances these days with safety after the ignition switch switch debacle and has announced a new set of recalls that affects 2.7 million vehicles.
There are five different recalls that cover a variety of safety issues, the largest of which is to fix a faulty brake lamp wiring harness in about 2.4 million vehicles. It affects the 2004-2012 Chevy Malibu and Malibu Maxx, the 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 and the 2007-2010 Saturn Aura. Corrosion in the wiring harness due to micro-vibration can cause the brake lamps to illuminate when the pedal is not pressed, or the opposite. On top of that, cruise control, traction control, electronic stability control and panic braking assist functions may also be disabled.
GM is aware of 13 crashes and two injuries but no fatalities as a result of the brake lamp issue.
The second of five recalls affects the 2005 to 2007 Corvette and covers the potential loss of low-beam headlamps. Once the engine is warm, the low-beam relay control circuit wire will bend slightly, which over time will cause it to break. As the engine cools down, low-beam function can return. The remainder of the C6 generation Corvettes will also be covered under a separate customer satisfaction campaign.
Next, the 2014 Chevy Malibu equipped with 2.5-liter engine and stop-start technology is being recalled. The hydraulic brake boost may become disabled requiring greater pedal effort and increasing stopping distances. GM says it is aware of four crashes, but is not certain that they are all related to this condition.
Another new vehicle, the 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, is being called back because its windshield wipers could fail. After being jump started, the windshield wipers may become inoperable. GM is unaware of any accident as a result of this recall.
SEE ALSO: GM Ignition Switch Recall Underway
Saving the worst for last, GM is recalling certain 2014 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierras along with some 2015 Chevy Tahoe SUVs over issues with the tie rod attachment to the steering rack. In these vehicles, the tie rod threaded attachment wasn’t tightened to specification and may separate from the steering rack, causing the vehicle to lose steering.
Customers who own these trucks and SUVs are being asked not to drive their trucks and to transport them via a flatbed truck to their dealer. GM says this problem was discovered and corrected early during assembly, so only a 477 vehicles are affected.
All together, General Motors has set aside $200 million for the second quarter, just to cover the cost of recalls. So far in 2014, GM has recalled over 10 million vehicles. In conjunction with the ignition switch recalls alone, GM will have spent $1.5 billion on recalls so far this year.
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