GM recalls 1.3 million cars over steering issues

[sammyg2]

So where's the outrage? Where's the front page news? where's the story on every news show there is?
Where's the congressional hearings?
Where are the dozen posts by the same user?


GM recalls 1.3 million cars over steering issues
Wednesday, March 3, 2010

General Motors (GM) announced on Tuesday a recall of 1.3 million Chevrolet and Pontiac cars in the US, Mexico, and Canada over problems with the power steering system.

Recalling these vehicles is the right thing to do for our customers' peace of mind
—Jamie Hresko, vice president of quality at GM

The models, the 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2007-2010 Pontiac G5 in the US, the 2005-2006 Pontiac Pursuit in Canada and the 2005-2006 Pontiac G4 in Mexico, were affected by a fault that causes the power steering in the vehicles to fail. The company says that cars can still be safely controlled even after the loss of power steering, although more effort to turn the car would be required.

GM is currently working on developing a fix for the problem, after having conducted an internal investigation for more than a year, beginning last January. In addition to GM's investigation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also conducted an investigation on the Cobalt, which began in January 2010. The investigation was begun after more than a thousand complaints about the model were received by the agency, including reports of 14 crashes caused by the fault. GM contacted the NHTSA about the problem on Monday.

[Tervuren]

Hmm, lets just remove the power steering and use our muscles - problem solved!

[Jim Richards]

IIRC, they handled it more openly than Toyota, and the recall was for parts supplied by a company Toyota controlled. Should we be more outraged at Toyota? That is what you're asking, correct?

[notfarnow]

I feel bad for GM with this one. They put a lot of effort into the Cobalt/G5... it's a massive improvement over the Cavalier/sunfire.

With *any* recall now becoming a huge story, this is probably going to hurt GM at a time when they really do deserve to be getting some of the small car market

Also, can you imagine the logistics of THIS recall? Changing gas pedals is what, 15-20 minutes per car? Imagine changing the PS motors on 1.3M cars. Massive!

[BGCarrera32]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

With *any* recall now becoming a huge story, this is probably going to hurt GM at a time when they really do deserve to be getting some of the small car market

With all do respect GM doesn't deserve one iota of the small car market, period. They toilet tanked their company and the US government was stupid enough to keep them afloat. The US automaker that deserves the market share is Ford.

Ya know, the one that didn't take a direct monetary bailout...

The outrage should be not be over GM's power steering recall but at their ripoff of the shareholders and the US congress as a whole.

[Jim Richards]

From Nathan Hurst / Detroit News / Washington Bureau:

"NHTSA records show 14 crashes have resulted from power steering failures, with one injury reported; a formal investigation was announced in early February."

Wow...one freakin' injury. I'm outraged.


GM's recall was voluntary, unlike Toyota's.

The link to GM blaming the supplier that is partially owned by Toyota. GM Blames Recall on Supplier Partially Owned by Toyota // Current

Sammy, can you feel the outrage?

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by BGCarrera32

With all do respect GM doesn't deserve one iota of the small car market, period. They toilet tanked their company and the US government was stupid enough to keep them afloat. The US automaker that deserves the market share is Ford.

Ya know, the one that didn't take a direct monetary bailout...

The outrage should be not be over GM's power steering recall but at their ripoff of the shareholders and the US congress as a whole.

Agreed. My point was that politics, bailouts, shareholders aside... GM is actually making some decent and competitive small cars, and this recall will scare some people away from them

[onewhippedpuppy]

Let's face facts here, the worst Kia on the market looks like a Lexus compared to a Cavalier. Having had a G6 as a rental on several occasions I was distinctly underwhelmed.

[Jim Richards]

Their cars leave me underwhelmed, too.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Let's face facts here, the worst Kia on the market looks like a Lexus compared to a Cavalier. Having had a G6 as a rental on several occasions I was distinctly underwhelmed.

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Their cars leave me underwhelmed, too.

A cavalier, yes

I used to dread renting cars, because 6/10 times I ended up with a $#%@ cavalier. But the Cobalt/G5 is a vast improvement over that.

Definitely underwhelming. But is there a comparable small car, dollar for dollar, that you get excited about? I can't think of any. A Civic is fun, and better looking, but a lot more $$ The only new/cheap small car that I can say I actually *enjoy* driving is a Suzuki sx4, but that's a fair bit smaller than a Cobalt.

[Jim Richards]

I'm not that impressed by the Cobalt in comparison with my Jetta.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Prior to the massive discounting that GM dealers are famous for, Cobalt MSRP is similar to a Mazda3. Game, set, match.

When the new Focus shows up next year there will be another legit contender.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

I'm not that impressed by the Cobalt in comparison with my Jetta.

As a reformed VW owner, I can honestly say that I'd buy a Cobalt before I bought another VW. Wouldn't even think twice about it. Then again, I'd buy a donkey and cart before I bought another VW.

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Prior to the massive discounting that GM dealers are famous for, Cobalt MSRP is similar to a Mazda3. Game, set, match.

When the new Focus shows up next year there will be another legit contender.

Well the massive discounting = actual "out the door" purchase price, so that's what I'd want to compare. But yeah, keeping in mind that without gov't subsidies, I don't imagine GM would be able to produce it and sell it below the Mazda3.

The new Fiesta will be VERY interesting to see. It'll be great to see the Fiat 500s around too

[berettafan]

Oh sniper is gonna be upset.

[lukeh]

Haven't automotive recalls been going on for like forever. Why is it only now they seem to be such a bid deal and all over the news? It also seems like one Toyota recall gets gets more publicity than 10 Ford or GM ones.

[Jim Richards]

It's only a big media deal when there's a cover-up while people are dying.

[lukeh]

You mean like with the exploding fuel tanks in the Pinto?

[LSA]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

A cavalier, yes
A Civic is fun, and better looking....

You're joking right?



man.... look at those classic lines! On a serious note though, I would hardly call a civic fun, clunky transmission, 0-60 at about half past never and a horn that sounds akin to a clown car. I dread having to take my moms civic on trips to visit family.

[vash]

i'm surprised they sold that many of those cars.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

From Nathan Hurst / Detroit News / Washington Bureau:

"NHTSA records show 14 crashes have resulted from power steering failures, with one injury reported; a formal investigation was announced in early February."

Wow...one freakin' injury. I'm outraged.


GM's recall was voluntary, unlike Toyota's.

The link to GM blaming the supplier that is partially owned by Toyota. GM Blames Recall on Supplier Partially Owned by Toyota // Current

Sammy, can you feel the outrage?

You are so FOS your eyes are brown.
You just make crap up and don't have a single care in the world that it's BS.

There were over 1000 complaints. GM investigated it FOR A YEAR before notifying the feds.
Now I'm not trying to make that into something it's not, I'm saying they should be treated the same way toyota was and visa versa. You are typical of the toyota bashing tools who act on pure irrational emotion totally devoid of any logic.

Oh, BTW, Toyota's recall was voluntary. Unlike what you said. You were wrong. Again. At least you are consistantly full of it.
How about you try making an accurate statement once? It couldn't hurt, you might actually like it.