GM first recalled 200,000 cars in 2007 related to the issue, and then recalled another 1.5 million vehicles in 2008.
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The recall – the third in seven years – comes after more than 1,300 vehicles caught fire after they were thought to have been repaired by dealers. About 85% of the fires took place when the auto was shut off and there was no one around the vehicle, GM spokesman Alan Adler said.
The recall covers models dating from 1997 to 2004 and is needed because the first round of repairs on the vehicles didn’t solve the problem, the company said. To see if your vehicle is affected, you can check here.
The issue involves a valve gasket cover that can wear out over time and cause oil to leak.
The oil leak can lead to an engine fire, and most of the fires have occurred 10-15 minutes after the engine was turned off, CBS News reported.
In the April recall, GM ordered dealers to replace the spark plug wire retainer to redirect any dripping oil. Apart from these incidents, GM reported 19 other incidents that caused injuries, which could be traced to the faulty ignition switch. Each has a 3.8-liter, V-6 3800 engine.
The stock was trading even lower Tuesday morning after the company announced a recall of 1.4 million cars. In a small number, cars caught fire in a garage and damaged the building. According to a GM spokesperson, the size of this latest recall could have an impact on GM’s fourth-quarter earnings.
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“I was told I was entitled to a free and effective remedy for my auto”, the owner of a 2001 Buick Regal in Sacramento wrote to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2011.
