Chevy Cruze Recall, Diesel, & Review: General Motors Recalls Chevrolet Cruze; CEO to Testify to Congress
Amid accusations of safety issues and massive recalls of various models, General Motors has pulled its most popular car model off the show floor in another large recall of vehicles. GM has declined to offer any more information on the recalls and simply ordered dealers to cease sales. Mystery surrounds this last recall but it does not augur well for the car manufacturer's reputation following safety concerns and accidents.
Before the recall of the Chevrolet Cruze, General Motors ordered mass recalls of various different models due to multiple safety issues, mostly concerning the ignition switch. According to the Detroit Free Press, the original recall covered 1.6 million small cars made between 2003 and 2007. Now, however, an additional 970,000 vehicles have been added which include all versions of the Chevrolet HHR, Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, Saturn Ion, Pontiac Solstice and Pontiac G5.
The company is also recalling 680,200 cars, including the Chevy Cruze, for unrelated issues. Late on Friday, the car maker recalled 490,200 pickup trucks and SUVs made within the last year, including all of its 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks, as well as brand-new 2015 Chevrolet Suburban, Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL SUVs with 6-speed transmissions, according to the Free Press.
GM did explain the recall of the larger vehicles, which aims at fixing a "transmission oil cooler line that is not securely seated in its fitting." The situation has created at least three "incidents" with no injuries, GM said.
"If the line is not securely seated and transmission oil leaks from the fitting, the oil could contact a hot surface and result in a vehicle fire," GM said.
However, they did not explain why the Chevy Cruze with the 1.4-liter turbo engines was recalled, according to the Los Angeles Times. GM did clarify that only the gasoline-powered cars, which make up a third of the Chevy Cruze inventory, were to be recalled.
The engine, manufactured in Flint's powertrain plant, could be the issue with the car, according to the local NBC News affiliate. Automotive analyst Dr. Tim Nash proposed the possibility of there being an issue with the turbocharger. However, the United Auto Workers (UAW) disagreed, saying the model had no engine or ignition issues but declining to give any other information.
The new recalls come amidst scrutiny by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which has been investigating ignition switch issues. These have caused at least 12 deaths, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Next week, GM CEO Mary Barra will testify to Congress about the safety issues and recalls.