GM, Ford Announce Safety Recalls
General Motors Corp. said Friday that it is recalling nearly 1 million Chevrolet and GMC full-size pickup trucks for seat and safety belt problems, and Ford Motor Co. of Canada is recalling 114,000 cars because of a problem with the engine fan that could cause it to freeze in cold weather.
The recalls come after a year in which U.S. auto makers recalled 7.97 million cars and trucks, a 65% increase from the 4.8 million of 1994, according to Ward’s Automotive Reports, an auto industry journal.
An auto safety advocate said he is distressed by the timing and size of the recalls.
“We’re concerned that these recalls come at a time when domestic auto companies are making sizable profits,” said Clarence Ditlow, director of the Washington-based Center for Auto Safety. “They should spend more on engineering and less on marketing and salaries.”
GM said 748,000 1993 and ’94 Chevrolet and GMC full-size extended-cab trucks have a problem that could allow the front seats to recline suddenly.
The company is mailing letters to owners instructing them to call dealers to schedule free repairs. It said dealers will install bolts to attach the seat back to the seat frame. GM said it received reports of 22 incidents involving 16 minor injuries as a result of the problem.
It also said 630,000 of its 1994 and ’95 full-size extended-cab trucks from Chevrolet and GMC may not conform to federal standards for front seat belts. It said the condition may result in the buckle separating from the latch in frontal collisions. GM said it had received no reports of accidents or injuries as a result of the seat belt problem.
GM also announced three other recalls, none of which involved accidents or injuries.
Recalled are 47,900 1995 Pontiac Sunfires, to install new instrument cluster trim plates, which could partially melt in high temperatures; 13,243 Cadillac Deville and Concours sedans made in the 1996 model year, because a hood latch may not function properly, allowing the hood to open; and 10,600 1995 Lumina APV and Pontiac TransSport minivans, to fix a problem with the accelerator that could result in the engine’s not returning to idle speed.
