GM recalls Cruze cars over risk of engine fire

General Motors announced June 22, 2012, that it is recalling 2011 and 2012 models of its Cruze cars because of risk of engine fires. / GM

(CBS/AP) DETROIT - A risk of engine fires is forcing General Motors (GM) to recall its popular Chevrolet Cruze compact car.

The recall covers the 2011 and 2012 model years and affects more than 475,000 cars, which have ranked among the top-selling U.S. compacts over the past two years.

The fires can ignite when fluids, mainly oil spilled when it is being changed, drip onto a hot plastic shield below the engine, the company said Friday. GM knows of 30 fires caused by the problem. Flames engulfed and destroyed cars in two cases reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. No injuries have been reported, spokesman Alan Adler said.

To eliminate the risk of fires, dealers will cut the shield to let the fluids drain to the pavement, GM said. The repairs take about 30 minutes and are free, the company said.

Cruzes with completely worn-out manual transmissions also can leak fluid onto the shields in rare cases, GM said.

"The most important thing for our customers to know is that we are proactively working to assure the Cruze is the safe and durable car they purchased," said GM vice president of Global Quality Alicia Boler-Davis in a statement. "We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by these actions."

The recall includes cars built from September of 2010 through May of 2012 at GM's Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant. They were sold in the U.S., Canada, and Israel.

The Cruze is a strong competitor in a market where GM has fallen short in the past. The car came out in 2010 and was the top-selling compact in the U.S. from May through September last year.

But sales have started to fall as more Toyota Corollas and Honda Civics become available. Both were scarce after a 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan hobbled production.

Still, GM has sold more than 351,000 Cruzes in the U.S. alone, including almost 95,000 so far this year.

[sonjaab]

How come NO mention or big headline of the 1.5 MILLION NON union made toyota cars that are being recalled for engine fires also?

Just the same old American cars are junk and imports good BS!

[BurnSheepBurn]

Let's correct a few mistakes with your post, shall we? First of all, it's 1.4 million non-union built Toyotas being recalled, not 1.5. Also, the recall isn't for engine fires - it's for fires caused by the power window switch assembly that Toyota uses throughout its entire line. Still a big deal, but we're not talking about fires in close proximity to oil and gasoline in the Toyotas as we are in the Cruzes.

Of those 1.4 million Toyotas recalled, only SIX fires have been reported. Compare that to fewer (475,000) Cruzes recalled for 30+ fires... and don't forget the 350,000 CHEVY Trailblazers recently recalled for over 30 fires, as well.

Seems to me that GM has a bigger problem..

I find the Cruze fires to be completely unsurprising. It's a f*cking Daewoo, for christssake, assembled (not "built" as that implies they do something more complicated than watch robots put pieces together) by UAW inbreds in Ohio. It's a ****** car, built by ****** people FOR ****** people. Serves them right, frankly, for buying one.

[ObamasGuppies]

Another fine union made product. They'll call the vehicle the Flaming Torpedo.

[5345637457845673]

C'mon GM! You've had more than enough time to get your act together, yet still keep pumping out "future recalls."

[enlightenu]

I think this is all much ado about nothing. It's an easy fix, although they should offer a redesigned shield instead of poking holes in the original. I rented a Cruze recently and it is a very good car. It has a lot of power considering it's a 1.4 liter. It's no Ford Focus, but it was really comfortable and felt very solid.

[Jhihmoac]

I'd still take the Focus over the Cruze...

[twmat311]

GM used to stand as the best, but after 30+ years of serious battering by foreign competition, the best they can do is "pretty good." I was a solid Olds buyer, but have owned various non-US brands for 12 years (with one admiitted Dodge mistake in those 12 years), and will need serious convincing to go back. And I have a hard time excusing the bankruptcy filing - Ford didn't do it.

[ammo17]

we put a lot a lot of money into genenral motors but we are getting the same junk for our money.they probably saved $2.00 on each car putting a cheap part in them.

[realtimecoffee]

Sounds more like a cheap design than a cheap part.

[alpinequeen]

They should go back to making the Corvair but don't tell Ralph Nader. At least the Corvair didn't have much plastic.

[formerlyluvnut]

More high dollar "quality" American made cars. Never stops.

[forumcomments]

Made in mexico assembled in US.

[retmw2]

That's all those high paid engineers, they designed it. By the way you think that the imports are any better, they just hide the majoprity of they're recalls.

[TeaPartyNation----]

GM recalls Cruze cars over risk of engine fire
..so Government Motors will burn you to a crisp in BOTH the Volt and the Cruz. Is treatment for your burns covered under OBOZOCARE (providing the Death Panel approves, of course)?

[twmat311]

Actually, GM's quality problems date back to the era when Reagan bailed out Chrysler with those early 80s loan guarantees. Good thing too, because that allowed us to experience the Plymouth Reliant.

[realtimecoffee]

Hey Chrysler was a great GM component! Wait what?

[enlightenu]

This is a silly problem, most cars have shields under the engine. This is the first time I heard of such a problem, but perhaps the Cruze shield is a little too close.

[twmat311]

GM doessn't design for contingencies like Quickie-Lube mistakes; you have to make sure and go to Mr. Goodwrench, so when they ruin your car and say "you didn't have it serviced elsewhere did you?" you can shove a stack of their own work orders at them. Been there, done that; your car is still broken, but you have proof that they know whose fault it really is.

[twmat311]

This car only sold well when the competition was shut down from the earthquake/tsunami (until they rerouted production to their other sites); a note to GM - it's been 30+ years since you said you were going to be world class, and we're still waiting. Chevette, Citation, Cavalier, Cobalt, now Cruze; what next?

And to the Japan bashers - I've experienced their much-better (not like GM) response to quality issues. Japan listens and responds; GM tells you that you just don't understand their product (a gas soaked air filter = "you know, because fuel injection sprays the gas, that's why"). And my latest one was actually built in a Detroit factory - so I don't blame the American auto workers either.

[jt92202]

How about the Passive Lock Systems that will make the car not start because the system thinks the car is being stolen. Started in 1997 on the Chevy Lumina and continued through 2007 but in 2005 when the Chevy Nova came out they actually stated in the manual "if the car will not start but all the lights come on, turn the key on for 10 minutes until the security light stops flashing and then turn the key off for 20 seconds and then the car should start". Because this was not a "saftey" problem they would not recall all models for the fix. It cost me 550.00 to put a new passive lock system in my Monte Carlo after years of trying to figure out what was wrong with it. Chevy never told me that this was the problem, I found the info on the internet from others that had the same problem. Guess what the actual problem was? They used a tin connector that plugged into the steering collumn and it would rust, if they would have spent 5 cents more they could have used a brass one and it would never have rusted. Save a penny and pass 550.00 on to your customer!! I love my car but I was very unhappy with the dealerships that told me they didn't know what was wrong and they would have to keep my car and do some electrical tests and that that could cost lots of money! When I did finally find a dealership that knew what the problem was I had it fixed. Being stranded for sometime 40 minutes, once the system got worse it took more tries to get it started, I think they should have put the Passive Lock into my car for free!!! But it wasn't a Saftey Issue so they washed their hands of it and me the customer had to eat the time and cost to get it fixed!

[twmat311]

My 1985 had an overdrive automatic that vibrated when going from 3rd-4thOD like driving on rumble strips. GM dealer: "Oh, don't worry, they're all like that." Traded it in 1987 on a Ford, and I told them it's been like that since brand new; the guy who bought it drove them NUTS with service visits (their emphasis) since a car shouldn't do that. It won't - if you don't buy GM.