Defective door lock and window switches in more than 258,000 SUVs have led General Motors and Isuzu to recall the vehicles due to a fire hazard. The recall includes Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Isuzu Ascender and Saab 97-X SUVs from the 2006 and 2007 model years.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that water may enter the driver’s door and cause corrosion that could result in a short in the circuit board. The short may cause overheating, which can melt wires and switches, producing a foul odor, smoke, or a fire.
GM started investigating the defective switches after NHTSA received about a dozen reports of fires. In one complaint filed with NHTSA, from Oct. 29, 2008, a woman reported that her vehicle alarm went off when her 2006 TrailBlazer was parked in her driveway. When she investigated, she saw the SUV in flames. Firefighters told her it started in the driver’s door.
“The fire burned the entire driver’s side of the vehicle, a portion of the front passenger seat and the roof,” she wrote.
Dealerships will be replacing the defective power widow switches for free. Manufacturers will be sending owners letters telling them when and where to schedule appointments. The estimated cost to the vehicle manufacturers is expected to be in the millions of dollars.
Buick owners can contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. Isuzu owners will be notified by Isuzu Motors. Owners may contact Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727. SAAB owners will be notified by SAAB Cars North America and for inquiries, owners may call SAAB customer service at 1-855-880-0808.
Millions of defective products are introduced into the US marketplace each year. Some simply do not work as they were intended to, while others create serious health and safety risks for consumers. At Davis Law Group, we help injured consumers recover for their harms and losses caused by dangerous and defective products. For example, we handle defective airbag cases, defective appliances like dryers and microwave ovens that cause fires, and other defective products that lead to injuries. You can read about our other product defect posts at North Carolina Injury Attorney Blog.