General Motors Co. reported today that it is recalling the 2012 Chevy Impala and the 2012 Buick LaCrosse. Not every unit manufactured this year will be recalled, however, a total of 16,198 cars across the United States and Canada will be recalled. Of the cars being recalled, 89% were sold in the United States.
2012 Chevrolet Impala
Owners of Chevrolet Impalas manufactured between April 19, 2011, and July 29, 2011, can expect to have the recall serviced at their local dealer. The NHTSA reports that “the upper power steering hose may have been misrouted so that it can come in close proximity to and/or contact the catalytic converter”. The heat off of the catalytic converter could melt the hose, causing power steering fluid to leak onto hot components, possibly causing an engine compartment fire. The safety recall number for the Chevrolet Impala is 11224.
Impala Recall Repairs
Owners of the 2012 Chevrolet Impala should contact their local GM Dealership with their VIN number to determine whether or not their specific Impala is included in the recall. The dealership will schedule an appointment for the maintenance. The necessary repairs will be made for free. Owners can also contact Chevrolet on their hotline at 1-800-630-2438 for more information about the recall.
2012 Buick LaCrosse
Owners of 2012 Buick LaCrosses manufactured between June 9, 2011 and July 2, 2011 may experience a sensor malfunction if they do not have their cars serviced. The NHTSA reports that “a malfunctioning sensor may cause the ESC to falsely activate, resulting in sudden changes in vehicle handling and deceleration, which may cause loss of control, and could result in a crash without warning”. The safety recall number for the 2012 Buick LaCrosse is 11222.
LaCrosse Recall Repairs
Owners of the 2012 Buick LaCrosse should contact their local GM Dealer with their VIN to make an appointment for the necessary repairs. The dealership will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module to remedy the problem. All related repairs will be performed for free. Owners can also contact Buick on their hotline at 1-866-608-8080 for more information about the recall.
Recall Related Injuries
General Motors has not reported any injuries or crashes due to the current recalls. Despite the lack of injuries, it is important that companies such as GM are proactive in volunteering recalls of automobiles. Identifying and repairing defects in production vehicles on the assembly line is a good business practice, but to truly be a quality manufacturer, you have to go back and repair the ones sold prior to the discovery. A quick look back at Toyota’s recall of 245,000 Lexus Sedans earlier this year makes a great reminder of everything that is at stake for an automaker.
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