General Motors to Recall 1.3 Million Vehicles for Power Steering Issue

STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — General Motors announced on Monday that it will recall more than 1.3 million vehicles in the United States after it was determined that they may experience a sudden loss of electronic power steering assist.

GM says that the vehicles notify the driver in the event that power steering assist is lost, and that steering control can be maintained, but that the issue would require “greater driver effort” even at low speeds. Because of this, GM says the issue could increase the risk of a crash.

A press release on GM’s website identified the vehicles subject to recall:

    Chevrolet Malibu: All model year 2004 and 2005, and some model year 2006, 2008 and 2009 vehicles
    Chevrolet Malibu Maxx: All model year 2004 and 2005, and some 2006 model year vehicles
    Chevrolet HHR (Non-Turbo): Some model year 2009 and 2010 vehicles
    Chevrolet Cobalt: Some model year 2010 vehicles
    Saturn Aura: Some model year 2008 and 2009 vehicles
    Saturn ION: All model year 2004 to 2007 vehicles
    Pontiac G6: All model year 2005, and some model year 2006 and model year 2008 and 2009 vehicles
    Service parts installed into certain vehicles before May 31, 2010 under a previous safety recall  

GM will, it says, replace either the power steering motor, the steering column, the power steering motor control or a combination of those parts free of charge, depending on the issue in the particular vehicle.

Some of the vehicles specified in this recall may have been included in previously announced recalls for ignition switch problems. Any vehicle that has been recalled for each of the two separate issues may require separate dealership visits, depending on availability of parts.

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