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GM Recalls 2.4 Million More Vehicles -- Their 29th Recall This Year

DETROIT (WWJ) - General Motors announced four new recalls, involving 2.4 million vehicles, on Tuesday. The vehicles involved range from crossovers with seat belt issues, to mid-size cars with transmission problems. This makes 29 recalls from GM so far this year.

"GM right now is absolutely reviewing everything, and they're looking at it through a microscope," said LMC Automotive Analyst Jeff Schuster.

This announcement now makes it a record year for recalls at General Motors, with 13.6 million vehicles called back in less than five months.

According to a release from GM, the latest recalls include:

  • 1,339,355 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia full-size crossovers from the 2009-2014 model years and Saturn Outlooks from 2009-2010 because front safety lap belt cables can fatigue and separate over time. In a crash, a separated cable could increase the risk of injury to front seat passengers.
  • 1,075,102 of the previous generation 4-speed automatic transmission Chevrolet Malibu and from the 2004-2008 model years and Pontiac G6 from the 2005-2008 model years because of a shift cable that could wear out over time, resulting in mismatches of the gear position indicated by the shift lever.
  • 1,402 Cadillac Escalades and Escalade ESVs from the 2015 model year because an insufficiently heated plastic weld that attaches the passenger side air bag to the instrument panel assembly could result in a partial deployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
  • 58 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD full-size pickups from the 2015 model year because retention clips attaching the generator fuse block to the vehicle body can become loose and lead to a potential fire.

There have been no fatalities associated with any these recalls. But, GM has connected one injury to  the issues in the mid size vehicles.

"GM is taking this opportunity to 'clean house' as it relates to safety recalls," says Kelley Blue Book President Jared Rowe.

Kelley Blue Book analyst Akshay Anand says this is both a positive and a negative for General Motors.

"On one hand, it's a positive we've seen so many recalls under the new GM regime. It means their safety folks are being proactive and not taking chances, especially in light of all that has gone on. At the same time, every additional recall has the potential to tarnish GM's image."

GM also says it expects to take a charge of up to approximately $400 million in the second quarter, primarily for the cost of recall-related repairs announced in the quarter. This amount includes a previously disclosed $200 million charge for the five recalls announced May 16.

GM took a $1.3 billion charge against its earnings to pay for recalls announced in the first quarter.

Jeff Schuster of LMC Automotive says while any recall from General Motors gets a lot of attention, GM is not alone when it comes to an increased sensitivity on safety.

"I think it's an industry wide trend as well," he said.  "We've seen an enormous number of recalls in the first five months of the year."

Connect with Jeff Gilbert
Email: jdgilbert@cbs.com
Facebook: facebook.com/carchronicles
Twitter: @jefferygilbert

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