— We might now have an idea why General Motors put a stop-sale on their model year 2013-2014 Chevy Cruze cars on March, 28.
GM has announced a recall of 662,000 cars, trucks, and SUVs for a host of problems, none related to the millions of vehicles already recalled because of a defective ignition switch.
Chevy Cruze / Axle Fractures
About 172,000 model year 2013-2014 Chevy Cruze cars are recalled to replace a right front axle half-shaft that can fracture while driving.
GM has received numerous warranty claims about axle fractures in cars equipped with the 1.4 liter four-cylinder turbo engine. GM says the "interconnecting tubular bar" on the front right axle half-shaft doesn't meet GM standards and could cause the car to lose power to the wheels. A driver wouldn't lose steering or brake control, but the car will coast to a stop.
If the Cruze has a fractured axle and is parked on an incline without the parking brake applied, there's a possibility the car could roll away. However, GM said they have no reports of accidents or injuries related to the axle defect.
Chevy Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Chevy Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL / Transmission Leaks
GM is recalling about 490,000 trucks and SUVs because they could catch fire from a transmission leak. The affected vehicles include the following trucks and SUVs equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions:
- 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500
- 2014 GMC Sierra 1500
- 2015 Chevy Suburban
- 2015 Chevy Tahoe
- 2015 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL
Unlike the Cruze recall, GM said three "incidents" have occurred because of the defect, although no injuries have been reported.
The fire danger comes from a transmission oil cooler line that might not be properly connected to its fitting. Oil can leak from the fitting and any contact with a hot surface could cause a fire.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not released information as to when the recalls will start. Owners of the recalled GM vehicles should watch for official notice in the mail.
In just the past three months, General Motors has recalled close to five million vehicles, including over 2.5 million related to a faulty ignition switch GM ignored for 10 years.
