GM recalling 1.4M cars; oil leaks can cause engine fires

[Zorro]

Source: AP

For the third time in eight years, General Motors is recalling cars that can leak oil and catch fire, sometimes damaging garages and houses.

The recall, which covers 1.4 million vehicles dating to the 1997 model year, is needed because repairs from the first two didn't work. More than 1,300 cars caught fire after they were fixed by dealers, the company said.

In the previous recalls in 2008 and 2009, GM told owners to park the cars outside until repairs can be made since most of the fires happened shortly after drivers turned off the engines. A spokesman was checking to see if the same recommendation applies this time.

GM reports at least 19 minor injuries from the blazes, which have persisted since U.S. safety regulators first noticed them early in 2007. In 2008, a GM spokeswoman said the cars were responsible for 267 fires over the years, including at least 17 that burned structures.

Read more: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/gm-recalling-1-4m-cars-oil-leaks-cause-105311011--finance.html

[Scuba]

1. I see the problem with your car ....

.... it's the little chrome piece that says "Chevrolet."

[Jesus Malverde]

2. GM

Don't put keys in the ignition, don't park cars in your garage cause our POS cars will kill you.

Maybe it would have been a good thing if they went out of business before they got a government bailout.

[8 track mind]

3. I've changed a lot of head gaskets on those engines.

Poor engineering on an otherwise great engine. Never let the accounting department run R and D.....

[exboyfil]

4. Designs that work cost more than designs that don't

Managers are constitutionally unable to understand why this is true.

A couple of Axioms from my coworkers.

[sybylla]

7. Excellent point.

It does always seem so. Though you'd think a company capable of hiring the smartest and the best would not let short-sightedness rule.

[exboyfil]

9. It is the optimization problem

Many managers are optimizing their careers. Part of that is to reach wildly unrealistic goals. They accomplish this by cutting corners and moving on before the wreckage hits. These are 18 month wonders only staying in a position for that period of time before moving on to that next.

[Kingofalldems]

5. Return of the Vega.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

6. There has to be a further explanation...

... they are not saying much as to just what the problem(s) are, at least in this article.

My 1998 Bonneville SE doesn't leak a drop of oil. (I check the garage floor and friend's and relative's driveways where I park) Runs like a top, drive it anywhere with 138,000 on the counter and normal maintenance - new plugs, new wires, trans flush and new serpentine belt. Why does this appear to only affect these models?

[sybylla]

8. Every time I changed oil in my 02 Grand Prix I had this problem.

Oil dripped onto the exhaust because where the oil filter was located made it impossible to remove without getting oil on the frame and from there to the exhaust. So how does changing the valve cover gasket stop the problem. It's a bigger issue than just that.

It never occurred to me that the oil could catch fire on hot exhaust. Luckily, I lived far enough from the oil change place that it probably burned off before I got home and put the car in the garage.

We retired our GP last year with over 250,000 miles on it. It was a good car and I'd own one again in a heartbeat. Even knowing this problem.

[dembotoz]

10. had a couple cars the each time i got an oil change i could smell burning oil from drips etc

sort of the new oil change smell.
not to be confused with the new car smell.
that left years ago

[sybylla]

11. LOL! Exactly.

Like clockwork in this case.