GM Sedans Added to U.S. Engine-Fire Probe

The government has upgraded an investigation into more than 2 million General Motors Corp. cars with 3.8-liter engines after 44 owners complained that the engines caught fire.

The investigation involves 1996 through 2000 models of the Buick Le Sabre, Park Avenue, Regal and Riviera; Oldsmobile 88, 98 and Cutlass; Pontiac Bonneville and Grand Prix; and the Chevrolet Monte Carlo. GM said it will cooperate.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration also opened an investigation into 2001-03 models of the Acura 3.2 TL and 3.2 CL because of 35 complaints about transmission problems that can cause the cars to quickly lose speed and come to a stop. Two crashes and two injuries were reported. NHTSA estimates about 265,000 of the cars are on the road.

The Acura probe was opened after The Times reported in September on a growing number of automatic transmission failures in V-6 powered models. Acura, the luxury car unit of Torrance-based American Honda Motor Co., initially denied that a problem existed, then said it had replaced more than 24,000 transmissions under warranty. The company announced in late September that it would extend the power train warranties on various Acura and Honda models with the suspect transmissions to seven years or 100,000 miles.