Just this month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) officially announced a recall that will affect approximately 250,000 vehicles. The recall stems from a defect in the driver’s door module that allows water to come into contact with the circuit board. If the circuit board is compromised with water and shorts out, the power door locks and power windows will cease to function. More importantly, the defect can also lead to overheating, which in turn could melt components of the door module, producing odor, smoke, and/or a potential fire. The NHTSA investigation into this defect has determined that there have been 28 such fires reported to the governmental agency since February of this year.
The recall applies to 2006 and 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazers, GMC Envoys, Buick Rainiers, Isuzu Ascenders, and SAAB 9-7X, all of which are manufactured by General Motors. The press release issued by the NHTSA states that the remediation plan is still being finalized and the notification schedule has not yet been determined. The press release also states that (1) Buick, Chevrolet, and GMC owners will be contacted by General Motors, (2) Isuzu owners will be contacted by Isuzu Motors, and (3) SAAB owners will be contacted by SAAB Cars North America.
Anyone driving one of the affected vehicles should be aware of this defect and the potential for serious injuries. More information will be forthcoming regarding the recall and providing instructions for owners of these vehicles. Owners may contact the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to www.safercar.gov for additional information.
If you or someone you know has been injured by a recalled vehicle, contact the attorneys at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211.