According to the early reports from the Consumer Reports website, GM has issued a recall of the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon pickup trucks. According to the many news articles covering the news, the recall is due to an issue with the electronics behind the seat belts in both models.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that both truck lines may have issues regarding the the seat belts and the electronic sign that warns the driver if the item is fastened correctly. According to the agency, in the event of a collision, the belt may allegedly come undone due to its faulty electronics.
The company along with the NHTSA stated that electrical connections might have been poorly installed in the factories. The problem was only found in the driver’s seatbelt, the passenger’s seat belt allegedly works perfectly well.
GM will start notifying all owners of the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon this month so all faulty items will be replaced free of charge.
As a Los Angeles car accident lawyer I know many seriously life-threatening accidents can be prevented if drivers and passengers keep their seat belts on. It’s a great priority for California personal injury lawyers to make sure drivers understand the importance of the seat belt use and how it can save their lives.
General Motors Co. has announced the recall of 1.5 million vehicles due to a problem with the heating mechanism on several windshield cleaning systems that may present a vehicle fire hazard. According to a Los Angeles Times report, the automaker is expected to provide vehicle owners with $100 and turn off the heating mechanism within the system that releases cleaning fluid onto the windshield.
Vehicles affected by the GM recall include:
- Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS, Hummer H2 (2006-2009 Models)
- Buick Enclave, Cadillac CTS (2008-2009 Models)
- Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL; Saturn Outlook (2007-2009 Models)
- Chevrolet Traverse (2009 Model)
The recall may cost GM up to $150 million since the automaker cannot fix the defect within the heated cleaning fluid distribution system; instead, GM can only disable it. While some fire incidents may have gone unreported, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that it is not currently aware of any injuries, accidents, or deaths caused by the GM heating mechanism defect. However, NHTSA validates the serious risk of fire presented by these models if the system is not disabled.
The importance of an automaker’s timely response regarding vehicle defects and recalls cannot be stressed enough. But why do these automobile flaws occur in the first place? Regardless of the reasons, if an accident or fire occurs due to a defective vehicle component, injured victims may seek compensation for expenses associated with their injuries.
The aggressive and skilled Los Angeles auto product defect attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP have extensive experience in personal injury and product liability litigation. The plaintiff’s firm obtained the largest product liability judgment in American judicial history against General Motors after members of a family sustained serious burn injuries when a car fuel tank exploded. To learn more about Panish Shea & Boyle’s successful auto product liability track record, please visit www.psblaw.com or call 877-800-1700 for a no-cost consultation regarding your potential auto defect injury case.
