The four recalls announced today affect the following vehicles:
--1.34 million Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia full-size crossovers from the 2009-2014 model years and Saturn Outlooks from 2009-2010. The vehicles' front safety lap belt cables "can fatigue and separate over time," according to a GM statement. A separated cable can increase injury risk to front-seat passengers. The company said it has instructed dealers to not sell new or used crossovers until repairs are conducted.
--1.08 million previous generation 4-speed automatic transmission Chevrolet Malibu and from the 2004-2008 model years and Pontiac G6 from the 2005-2008 model years. The cars are being recalled because of shift cable problems. GM said it's aware of 18 accidents and one injury among the 4-speed malibus and G6s. Dealers will replace shift cables at no charge to customers.
--1,402 2015 Cadillac Escalades and Escalade ESVs. The vehicles are being recalled the passenger side air bag can become attached to the instrument panel assembly and could result in a partial deployment of the air bag" in a crash. Detroit-based GM said it stopped sale of the 2015 Escalades and Escalde ESV and contacted 224 customers who had already taken delivery. Consumers were told not to let anyone sit in the front passenger seat until the vehicle has been serviced. No accidents or injuries were reported with the vehicles, GM said.
--58 2015 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD full-size pickups because of a possible fire hazard. There haven't been any reported injuries or accidents, according to GM.
The automaker has begun 29 recalls this years. They include 2.6 million small cars with faulty ignition switches that are blamed for the deaths of 13 people. GM says it has added 35 product investigators since the start of this year.
The company has been "appearing in the news for not the right reasons," said Karl Brauer, senior analyst with Kelley Blue Book. Despite that, GM's post-bankruptcy cars and trucks "are still drawing interested consumers," he said.
"The metaphor I would use is the house got really dirty and now they're going to clean it up and make sure it doesn't get that dirty again," Bauer said of GM's vehicle recalls.
The recalls have dominated the tenure of Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra, who took the helm of the largest U.S.-based automaker in January. Barra this week installed a new global communications chief, Tony Cervone, who previously worked at GM.
