The latest recall applies to a patchwork of nameplates and model years, including the 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 non-turbo Chevrolet HHR, 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aurio, 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2005-2006 and 2008-2009 Pontiac G6.
Depending on the vehicle, GM plans to replace the power steering motor, the steering column, the power steering control unit, or a combination of the column and the control unit.
The announcement appears to confirm a much wider problem with power-steering equipment in many GM vehicles, despite several earlier recalls that already attempted to address such issues in millions of vehicles. Many owners may be bringing their vehicle in a second time to replace power steering parts that were originally defective and then replaced with revised components that are also faulty.
In addition to the aforementioned models, nearly 400,000 additional vehicles, including 2006-2008 Chevrolet HHRs and 2003 or newer Saturn Ions, will receive lifetime warranties for replacement of the power steering motor.
“With these safety recalls and lifetime warranties, we are going after every car that might have this problem, and we are going to make it right,” said GM’s new safety chief, Jeff Boyer. “We have recalled some of these vehicles before for the same issue and offered extended warranties on others, but we did not do enough.”
GM is approaching five million recalled vehicles since announcing the ignition switch problem in February, though some vehicles are listed on multiple recalls. The company has increased its estimated costs of dealing with the problems from $300 million to $750 million.
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