General Motors (GM) has issued many recalls relating to dangerous product defects in their various cars. At this time the total vehicles recalled by GM for various problems, not just the ignition switch issue obtaining most of the news coverage, amounts to approximately 20 million vehicles. The multiple product recalls likely affect many San Diego residents.
GM Recalls 33,000 Chevy Cruze for Airbag Failure to Deploy in Crash
General Motors has now recalled approximately 33,000 Chevrolet Cruze compact cars because the air bags might not inflate properly in a crash. The recall affects 2013 and 2014 Cruzes.
USA Today reported “Certain vehicles may be equipped with a suspect driver’s air bag inflator module that may have been assembled with an incorrect part,” GM spokesmen Jim Cain said in a statement. “We are working diligently with the supplier of the defective part to identify specific vehicles affected and expect to resume deliveries by the end of this week once those vehicles are identified.” Reuters reports the GM Cruze recall is the result of an accident that left a Georgia woman blind in one eye and the lawsuit that followed.
The lawsuit filed in late April in federal court in Atlanta against GM and Takata (airbag supplier), claims her car and driver-side air bag were “defective and unreasonably dangerous,” citing a problem that has dogged Takata for several years – air bag inflators that explode with too much force. More than 10.5 million vehicles with Takata air bags have been recalled globally.
GM Recalls for Seatbelt Failure to Restrain Passenger Causing Serious Injuries
General Motors issued a recall on May 20, 2014 relating to seatbelts failing to restrain passengers in accidents. Various GM vehicles including the Buick Enclave (April 18, 2008 –May 14, 2014), Chevrolet Traverse (June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014), GMC Arcadia (April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014) and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time, the consequence of which is that the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a car crash or car accident. This Seatbelt recall may impact 1,339,355 vehicles.
GM has set up a website where you can enter the VIN number for your car to determine GM recalls associated with your vehicle: GM Recall website.