An electrical problem is forcing Hummer to recall 196,000 vehicles after at least two were destroyed in fires. The issue is with the Hummer SUV’s fan motor, which is said to overheat in certain conditions.
The recall was announced on Wednesday and is based on company reports which state that, after prolonged use, the motor’s ventilation, including cooling and heating systems, dangerously overheat. The heat, in turn, causes nearby plastic components to melt and increase the risk of the vehicle catching fire.
So far, as many as 42 incidents were reported. Luckily, aside from a few minor burn cases and two vehicles which were destroyed by the fire, no crashes or serious damage was reported.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, various Hummer owners filed complaints about dashboard fires. The first complaint they received was over seven years ago. As a result of this technical issue, Hummer will be recalling H3 vehicles produced between 2006 and 2010 as well as H3T vehicles produced between 2009 and 2010.
In total, 196,379 vehicles are being called back, of which, 164,993 were sold within the United States. The remainder were sold in Canada and Mexico. As part of this recall action, dealers will be replacing the incriminated module as well as the wiring harness with no added costs for vehicle owners.
Back in 2009, Hummer became one of the four brands that GM decided to abandon as a result of its bankruptcy and organizational restructuring. In spite of the fact that Sichuan Tengzhong pledged to sustain the Hummer brand, no new vehicles are being produced today.
Sadly, GM’s issues don’t stop here, as additional recalls were announced aside from the massive Hummer recall. New models of the Chevrolet Spark (2014 and 2015 ones) are also being called back because of a software problem hindering the vehicle’s OnStar navigation system. This software malfunction would cause sudden shutdowns of the radio display, as well as safety warning disables.
Over 51,000 Chevy’s are being called back because of the software malfunction.
