GM Recalls 1.5 Million More Vehicles, Names Global Vehicle Safety Chief
Three more recalls and Jeff Boyer's appointment follow the ignition switch recall of 1.3 million vehicles in the United States.
General Motors has appointed Jeff Boyer, 58, as vice president of global vehicle safety, announcing March 18 that he "will have global responsibility for the safety development of GM vehicle systems, confirmation and validation of safety performance, as well as post-sale safety activities, including recalls." The announcement came one day after GM announced three more safety recalls of its vehicles, with these three totaling 1.5 million vehicles. They followed the expanded recall GM announced Feb. 25 to fix a problem in 1,367,146 vehicles with an ignition switch that could unintentionally move or switch to the "accessory" or "off" position, which turns off the engine and most of the vehicle's electrical components and can keep frontal airbags from deploying properly. The automaker said at that time that the ignition switch problem may have caused or contributed to non-deployment in 31 crashes involving a dozen front-seat fatalities.
GM said the three new recalls resulted from CEO Mary Barra's request for a "comprehensive internal safety review following the ignition switch recall." The three involve 303,000 Chevrolet Express and GM Savana vehicles with gross vehicle weight under 10,000 pounds, model years 2009-2014; 63,900 Cadillac XTS full-size sedans, model years 2013-14; and 1.18 million Buick Enclave and GMC Arcadia vehicles, model years 2008-2013, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles, model years 2009-13 model years, and Saturn Outlook vehicles, model years 2008-10 model years.
The Chevrolet Express and GM Savana vehicles don't meet the head impact requirement for unrestrained occupants, so their passenger instrument panel material must be changed. Brake booster corrosion may cause overheating in the Cadillac XTS vehicles. And the wiring harness of seat-mounted air bags on the Buick Enclave, GMC Arcadia, Chevrolet Traverse, and Saturn Outlook vehicles must be repaired, according to GM's announcement.
"I asked our team to redouble our efforts on our pending product reviews, bring them forward, and resolve them quickly. That is what today's GM is all about," Barra said in the recall announcement, which said unsold vehicles will be placed on a stop delivery until a solution is developed and parts are available.
Boyer started with GM in 1974 as a co-op student, according to the GM announcement of his new title. In it, Barra said, "If there are any obstacles in his way, Jeff has the authority to clear them. If he needs any additional resources, he will get them."