GM to recall about 1.5 million vehicles because of fire hazard

The automaker will disable the heating mechanism on a system that squirts cleaning fluid on the windshield and pay $100 to the vehicles' owners.

General Motors Co. will pay out as much as $150 million to owners of vehicles that are being recalled because it can't fix a flaw in the system that squirts heated cleaning fluid on the windshield.

In one of the largest recalls this year, GM said Tuesday that it was recalling about 1.5 million vehicles, including certain Cadillac and Buick sedans as well as several sport utility vehicles, because the problem could cause the vehicles to catch on fire. The recall of many 2006 to 2009 model-year vehicles will involve disabling the heating mechanism and paying $100 to the owner.

Analysts said the move by GM represented both the speed and willingness of large automakers to make amends with customers after the recent public relations debacle experienced by Toyota Motor Corp. over a series of large recalls and quality issues.

"This should be more common," said Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety.

GM recalls 1.5M cars for wiper fire hazard Owners to get $100 for loss of feature

General Motors said Tuesday it was recalling 1.5 million vehicles to disable a heated windshield washer fluid system linked to fires, saying owners would get $100 in compensation.
GM said the system was linked to five fires with no injuries or crashes. The system also had been recalled in August 2008 for fires. GM told dealers to install new wiring.

The automaker said it had kept monitoring the HotShot system made by supplier Micro-Heat since the first recall, and received a report in June 2009 of smoke from the units. GM withheld payments from Micro-Heat after the first recall. The company filed for bankruptcy.

GM said because Micro-Heat no longer existed, it could not provide an improved design again. For the new recall, dealers will remove the fluid heater and reroute hoses.

The $100 "is for the loss of the feature, not the recall," said Jeff Boyer, executive director of safety for GM.

The recall affects the 2006-09 model-year Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS, Hummer H2; the 2008-09 model-year Buick Enclave and Cadillac CTS; the 2007-09 model-year Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL, Saturn Outlook and the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse.

Of the 1.5 million vehicles covered, GM said 1,365,070 are in the U.S., with 98,794 in Canada, 26,228 in Mexico and 38,093 exports.