GM Will Recall Certain 2002-03 Midsize SUVs
Automaker Will Repair Windshield Wiper Condition
DETROIT - General Motors will recall about 636,000 model year 2002-03 GM midsize sports utility vehicles. The vehicles involved in this recall are certain: 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer and TrailBlazer EXT, GMC Envoy and Envoy XL, and Oldsmobile Bravada SUVs built between October 2000 and June 2002. Some 2003 TrailBlazer and TrailBlazer EXT, Envoy and Envoy XL, and Bravada SUVs built between April and November 2002 also are included. Finally, some 2002 Isuzu Ascenders will be recalled.
Of the total, about 580,000 are in the United States and approximately 31,000 are in Canada. The rest are outside these countries.
Beginning in the third quarter of 2004, owners of the affected vehicles will be notified, instructing them to bring them into their dealers. Dealers will cover a vent hole in the windshield wiper module vent hole with a patch. The wiper motor, circuit board, and electrical connector will be inspected for signs of water intrusion and/or corrosion and be replaced as required. The repairs will be performed at no cost to the customers.
There have been two reports of crashes related to this condition, but there have been no injuries or fatalities.
In some of these vehicles, water can enter the wiper module, causing a short circuit or corrosion of the components within the module. As a result, there have been reports of the wipers not working properly. Owners should have their vehicles checked and serviced if they are experiencing windshield wiper problems. Most owners, however, probably will not experience any wiper problems, and they should wait for the recall notification letter before bringing in their vehicles.
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, employs about 325,000 people globally. Founded in 1908, GM has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM today has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 192 countries. In 2003, GM sold nearly 8.6 million cars and trucks, about 15 percent of the global vehicle market. GM's global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM and its products can be found on the company's corporate website at www.gm.com .