General Motors (GM) has asked dealerships to stop selling approximately sixty thousand 2012 and 2013 vehicles because of a software problem with the OnStar communication system. According to GM spokesman, Alan Adler, the problem was discovered during rear end crash testing where the airbags are not suppose to deploy. The “sensing diagnostic module,” still senses when to inflate airbags, but when the airbags are not suppose to inflate, certain models may not always receive a call from an OnStar operator to check to see if the occupants are injured. The problem does not require a recall and GM has already repaired many vehicles through a remote upgrade. Owners with vehicles that cannot be repaired remotely will be notified through a GM customer service campaign and will be asked to bring their vehicles to the nearest dealership to have the problem fixed. The vehicles involved in the service campaign include:

  • 2013 Buick Verano
  • 2013 Cadillac ATS
  • 2012 Cadillac SRX
  • 2013 Cadillac XTS
  • 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
  • 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
  • 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  • 2013 GMC Terrain

General Motors (GM) and Isuzu will be alerting drivers of certain 2006-2007 sport utility vehicles (SUV) of a problem that could result in a fire starting inside the driver’s side door. The problem is being blamed on contaminants getting into the door and causing corrosion and a short circuit in the power door lock and power window switches. Drivers noticing a burning odor or the power door locks and power windows functioning intermittently or stop working completely, are asked to take their vehicles to the nearest dealership immediately. The problem affects certain GM and Isuzu vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The vehicles included in the recall are:

For more information about the problem:

  • Buick owners may contact the Buick owner center at 1-800-521-7300
  • Chevrolet owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546
  • GMC owners may contact the GMC owner center at 1-866-996-9463
  • Isuzu cowners may contact the Isuzu owner center at 1-800-255-6727
  • SAAB owners may contact the SAAB owner center at 1-855-880-0808

General Motors is recalling certain 2012 Buick Regal vehicles for a problem with parking lamps. According to the recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the parking lamps do not activate when either the parking lamps or headlamps are turned on. The inadequate lighting will reduce the visibility of the vehicle and increases the potential for an accident. GM will be notifying owners this month and will fix the issue by reprogramming the body control module. For more information about the problem, contact GM customer services at 1-800-521-7300.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating certain GM vehicles after receiving twelve complaints of smoke and fire from the inside of doors of some Trail Blazer mid-size sport utility vehicles. The complaints are similar to consumer reports that lead the NHTSA to open an investigation into some 2007 Camry, Camry Solara and Rav4 vehicles, earlier this month. The NHTSA will be focusing on whether window switches on the GM and Toyota vehicles were manufactured by the same supplier. The investigation could affect up to 310,000, 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazers. According to the safety administration, the Buick Rainer, Saab 9-7x, and the GMC Envoy share the same parts at the Trail Blazer, but these vehicle are not part of the investigation yet


General Motors (GM) has announced a new safety feature designed to protect drivers and front passengers in side impact crashes. This front center air bag deploys from the right side of the driver’s seat and positions itself between the front row seats near the center of the vehicle. It acts as an energy absorbing cushion between the driver and front passenger in both driver and passenger side crashes. The front center airbag will be introduced standard on all 2013 Acadia and 2013 Traverse vehicles with power seats and on all 2013 Enclaves.

The front center air bag is expected to add to the vehicles’ record of third-party crash test performance. The 2012 model year editions of these crossovers vehicles have received five-star Overall and Side Crash safety ratings from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program, and 2011 Top Safety Picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The air bag also is expected to add extra protection during rollovers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has closed an investigation into faulty fuel gauges in some 2005-2007 GMC, Chevrolet, and Buick sport utility vehicles, after GM agreed to pay 50% of the repair fees. The investigation was started earlier this year after the NHTSA received 668 complaints of inaccurate fuel gauge readings. The repairs could affect up to 865,000 vehicles in the United States. According to the Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) filed with the NHTSA, the vehicles involved include:

  • 2005-2007 Buick Rainier
  • 2005-2006 Chevrolet SSR
  • 2005-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer
  • 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT
  • 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 370
  • 2005-2007 GMC Envoy
  • 2006 GMC Envoy XL
  • 2005 GMC Envoy XL 370
  • 2005 GMC Envoy XUV

General Motors has announced a recall for certain 2012 Buick LaCrosse luxury sedans to reprogram the electronic brake control module. The problem is being blamed on a system calibration error that will not properly detect a sensor malfunction. The driver could experience wandering in the steering and an inability to maintain a constant speed. LaCrosse owners wanting more information on the recall can contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080.

General Motors has also announced a recall for some 2012 Chevrolet Impala vehicles to reroute the power steering hose. According to GM, the hose could be damaged by heat from the catalytic converter. In the presence of an ignition source, an engine fire could occur. Impala owners wanting more information on the recall can contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.