General Motors (GM) has issued a recall for its Chevrolet Volt electric hybrid over issues of possible carbon monoxide buildup if the driver forgets to turn off the vehicle.
The Detroit-based car maker says it has already notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the recall, which involves more than 64,000 Chevy Volts from model years 2011, 2012, and 2013 equipped with software that does not limit how long the car has been left in idle mode. Around 50,000 of the affected vehicles are located in the U.S., while the remaining cars are found in other parts of the world.
GM says the recalled Volts will be given software update that will cap the time during which the car is idling. The problem, GM says, is that since the Volt is an extended range electric vehicle with silent operation, the driver can forget to turn off the vehicle while still running on its battery. If the battery runs out, the gasoline engine kicks in, which, if left running long enough, can cause carbon monoxide buildup when the car is parked in an enclosed space, such as in a home garage.
"If the gas engine runs for a long period of time within an enclosed space, such as a garage, carbon monoxide could build up," says GM in a statement to Automotive News.
The auto manufacturer says it is aware of two injuries that have arisen due to carbon monoxide buildup caused by a Volt being left idle for a long period of time.
Separately, GM also announced a halt-delivery order to its dealers for its Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore compact crossovers. GM says the vehicles are awaiting a safety recall over concerns that the steering column assembly may hit the power steering printed circuit board, leading to a loss in power steering.
In a memo sent to dealerships, GM says the constant contact between the steering column assembly and the power steering printed circuit board could eventually cause enough wear, making it difficult for drivers to steer the vehicle and could lead to a sudden crash. Around 2,300 affected Trax and Encore vehicles have already been sold and are waiting for the official recall, GM says.
GM says that dealers will have to examine the affected vehicles and possibly replace the problematic parts. The car maker also says it is currently in contact with its suppliers to provide the parts needed for replacements.
