GM recalls 1.5 million cars, trucks for fire risk with heated wiper fluid.

General Motors is recalling about 1.5 million vehicles worldwide for a problem with a heated windshield wiper fluid system that could lead to a fire. The recall affects a number of 2006- to 2009-model pickups, SUVs and cars sold under the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer and Saturn brands. GM conducted a similar recall in 2008 but has had new reports of fires in vehicles that were supposedly fixed.GM plans to disable the washer fluid heating module and will pay owners/leasers $100 for losing the feature. GM says it is aware of five fires, but no injuries or crashes.
Nearly 1.4 million vehicles are in the U.S. More than 100,000 vehicles are in Canada, Mexico and elsewhere.
HERE IS THE LIST OF VEHICLES and a summary of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's posting:

• BUICK / ENCLAVE 2008-2009
• BUICK / LUCERNE 2006-2009
• CADILLAC / CTS 2008-2009
• CADILLAC / DTS 2006-2009
• CADILLAC / ESCALADE 2007-2009
• CADILLAC / ESCALADE ESV 2007-2009
• CADILLAC / ESCALADE EXT 2007-2009
• CHEVROLET / AVALANCHE 2007-2009
• CHEVROLET / SILVERADO 3500 2007-2009
• CHEVROLET / SUBURBAN 2007-2009
• CHEVROLET / TAHOE 2007-2009
• CHEVROLET / TRAVERSE 2009
• GMC / ACADIA 2007-2009
• GMC / SIERRA 2007-2009
• GMC / YUKON 2007-2009
• GMC / YUKON XL 2007-2009
• HUMMER / H2 2006-2009
• SATURN / OUTLOOK 2007-2009

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. Mfr's Report Date: JUN 04, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V240000 N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Potential Number of Units Affected: 1365070
Summary: GM is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 vehicles equipped with a heated washer fluid system (HWFS). A recall was implemented in 2008 to add a fuse to the control circuit harness to address the potential consequences of a printed circuit board electrical short. However, there have been new reports of thermal incidents on HWFS modules after this improvement was installed. These incidents resulted from a new failure mode attributed to the device's thermal protection feature. The significance varies from minor distortion to considerable melting of the plastic around the HWFS fluid chamber.
Consequence: It is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire may occur.
Remedy: Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page for the owner manual will be provided and inserted in the owner manual to document that the feature has been permanently disabled and removed from the vehicle. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before June 14, 2010. Owners may contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080, Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-972-8876, GMC at 1-866-996-9463 and Hummer at 1-800-732-5493 or at the owner center at WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
-- Fred Meier/Auto Editor




http://content.usatoday.com/communi...kups----fire-hazard-with-heated-wiper-fluid/1

 

damn that sucks. We just bought a 08 hummer. I wonder if I have the fliud heater? its the h3 base model so prob not but im gonna check it out

 

Sounds on par for GM.

 

Shocked! A GM Recall? Say it ain't so! Who would have thought it was possible to burn your truck to the ground with washer fluid? Only GM could engineer that.

 

I disagree, I think that the hearings into Toyota where unacceptable, I wouldn't wish the treatment Toyota received on any company.

 

A recall on a recall? Nice work GM. At the Chevy parts dept. I work in, we had those harnesses piled at the back counter. Nice to see we wasted the customer's valuable time installing something on their vehicle that they didn't need.

 

Please let it happen.

 

haha, first it was recalled to have a inline fuse installed. why the hell wouldnt there have been one in the first place?!?!?!

and now they are causing fires!
seems like a dumb idea anyways. warm liquid on a icy windshield? wouldnt that make it crack?

where are they getting money to give back to the consumer? they dont have no moneiz

 

There actually was a fuse in the fuse box, but that wasn't good enough. So they came up with a harness with an inline fuse in it. Looks like that didn't work either. Besides, if the washer fluid isn't rated for below freezing, it's gonna freeze whether it's heated or not as soon as it hits the windshield. Stupid idea, IMO. As far as the money, they'll just borrow it from the tax payer.....again.

 

Hey now the Gov't is involved so it should only get worse!