P.M. BRIEFING : GM Recalls 2 Million ‘84-88 Cars for Cruise Control-Throttle Defect

General Motors Corp. said today that it will recall nearly 2 million 1984-88 large and luxury cars to fix a cruise control problem that could cause the throttle to stick open, startling the driver and possibly leading to a crash.

The recall comes about four months after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urged the auto maker to correct the defect.

GM stressed that the problem is not related to so-called “sudden acceleration,” and that vehicles may be stopped using the normal braking system.

Involved in the recall are 1.73 million Oldsmobile, Buick, Chevrolet, Pontiac and Cadillac models, most of which are equipped with 5-liter gasoline engines, although about 18,000 have 4.3- or 5.7-liter diesel engines.

Agency spokesman Kent Milton said that if GM had not voluntarily recalled the autos, the government might have ordered the auto maker to do it.