GM recalling 218,000 Chevrolet Aveos for fire risk
General Motors is out with yet another recall. The automaker announced Wednesday it was recalling 218,000 of its tiny Chevrolet Aveo subcompact cars.
The recall affects Aveos from the 2004 through 2008 model years. The daytime running lights module in the vehicle’s instrument panel can potentially overheat and melt, potentially causing a fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“GM is aware of some fires in these vehicles but no injuries or fatalities,” the automaker said in a statement. “We are continuing to investigate.”
The cars were built in South Korea by Daewoo, a GM-owned subsidiary that is now called GM Korea. GM no longer sells them in the U.S., as the model has been replaced by the tidy Sonic hatchback and sedan.
Though GM has yet to submit a plan to fix the issue, all costs for parts and labor will be covered by the automaker.
Wednesday’s announcement means GM has recalled just under 14 million vehicles in 2014 alone. One day earlier, the automaker recalled 2.42 million vehicles for four separate issues.
None of the recalls this week are tied to GM’s most notable recalls of the year. In February, the brand recalled 2.6 million vehicles with faulty ignition switches that had been linked to at least 13 deaths. The automaker is facing numerous lawsuits and an investigation by the Department of Justice into why it delayed in recalling the cars for more than a decade.
GM has already paid a $35-million fine — the maximum allowed — to NHTSA for the delay and more severe penalties are expected.
