The Associated Press is reporting that General Motors (GM) is recalling about 1.5 million vehicles worldwide after learning that problems with its heated windshield wiper fluid system could cause fires.

This GM recall includes several pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), crossovers and passenger car models that were made between 2006 and 2009.  There was a similar product liability recall for the same fire hazard in 2008.

General Motors Company will send recall letters to affected consumers.

As a part of this recall, General Motors plans to disable the heater washer fluid system and will pay car owners or those leasing GM vehicles $100 each.  The auto company was aware of five fires from its defective heating system, but luckily no injuries or crashes have been reported in conjunction to the defect.  Initially, GM recalled over 900,000 vehicles for this same issue back in August 2008, but GM later came across fires in vehicles that had apparently been fixed in the previous recall — hence this latest announcement.

Here is a complete list of the cars affected by the General Motors recall (with their model years in parenthesis):

  • Buick Enclave (’08-’09)
  • Buick Lucerne (’06-’09)
  • Cadillac CTS (’08-’09)
  • Cadillac DTS (’06-’09)
  • Cadillac Escalade (’07-’09)
  • Cadillac Escalade ESV (’07-’09)
  • Cadillac Escalade EXT (’07-’09)
  • Chevrolet Avalanche (’07-’09)
  • Chevrolet Silverado (’07-’09)
  • Chevrolet Suburban (’07-’09)
  • Chevrolet Tahoe (’07-’09)
  • Chevrolet Traverse (’09)
  • GMC Acadia (’07-’09)
  • GMC Sierra (’07-’09)
  • GMC Yukon (’07-’09)
  • GMC Yukon XL (’07-’09)
  • Hummer H2 (’06-’09)
  • Saturn Outlook (’07-’09)

Auto recalls are important to take part in, believe us.  As personal injury attorneys, we have seen how auto makers delayed recalls in the past.  People were severely injured or killed in auto accidents that could have been avoided if these design defects were fixed.  Thankfully, this GM recall is proactive in preventing accidents, as no one has reported injuries from these defective wiper systems.

If you own any of the affected GM models listed above or want to find out if your vehicle applies to the recall, here are some numbers you can call:

  • Buick owners: (866) 608-8080
  • Cadillac owners: (866) 982-2339
  • Chevrolet owners: (800) 630-2438
  • Saturn owners: (800) 972-8876
  • GMC owners: (866) 996-9463
  • Hummer owners: (800) 732-5493

Contact our bilingual offices anytime — night or day — at (800) 655-6585 for a FREE Consultation with a personal injury attorney or click here to submit your case for a FREE Online Review.  Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe nothing until we recover money on your behalf.