GM Recall: Heated Windsheild Fluid System

[Mike Jung]

Threat of fire forces huge GM recall

Wiper system problem affects about 54,000 vehicles in Canada and nearly a million overall


RICK WILKING/REUTERS FILE PHOTO
Recall by General Motors on nearly a million vehicles takes in recent Hummers, SUVs and pickup trucks equipped with faulty wiper fluid system.

August 30, 2008 4:30 AM EDT
From the Star's wire services

WASHINGTON–General Motors Corp. is recalling 944,000 vehicles – including about 54,000 in Canada – because of a problem with the windshield wiper fluid system that could lead to a fire.

The recall involves more than 850,000 sport utility vehicles, trucks and passenger cars in the United States and nearly 100,000 vehicles in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. Mideast, involving model years ranging from 2006 to 2008.

GM spokesperson Stew Low said the roughly 54,000 vehicles affected in Canada were mainly "high-end" models such as the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra and Yukon.

The recall is to deal with a heated washer fluid system that can short-circuit and cause electrical features to malfunction.

There have been nine reports of fires, but no accidents or injuries.

"Normally what happens is there's smoke and the system doesn't work, but in rare cases there could be a fire," Low said.

"It's a very simple and fast fix and isn't all that inconvenient to (owners) especially at this time of year."

Low said concerned owners should go to their nearest General Motors dealer so GM can pull the windshield-washer heater system fuse out until parts are available.

GM VEHICLES RECALLED

2008 Buick Enclave

2006–08 Buick Lucerne

2006–08 Cadillac DTS and versions of the 2007–08 Cadillac Escalade

2007–08 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban

2007–08 GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL

2006–08 Hummer H2

2007–08 Saturn Outlook.

...

[Mike Jung]

vehicles in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. Mideast

Someone left this comment on the newspaper's website...

Mexico?

Why would cars sold in Mexico need windshield washer fluid heaters?

[tenspeed]

I always have a hard time getting windshield wiper fluid to stay lit....

[Ajaxus]

It's nice to see them moving fast on this..I just started reading about the Ford-Firestone/Bridgestone issue in depth for Business Law class...holy crap! It's worse than I remember it being..so it's nice to see a recall that took a few years vs. a few decades..

[Malaclypse]

I actually had to replace a dash harness because of this exact issue once. The windshield washer heater switch is in a really bad location just above the cupholder area in the center console. So something tall can turn the thing on without the customer knowing.

Figured this would be happening sooner or later.

[O1GAGT]

Originally Posted by tenspeed

I always have a hard time getting windshield wiper fluid to stay lit....

Ever try lighting GM's Optikleen or the BMW's concentrated washer fluid?
Check out the video below!

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/S...aker_98586.htm