GM Recall

On Tuesday, March 2, 2010, amidst recalls by Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Suzuki, General Motors Corporation GM) announced a recall of its own.

The GM recall involves model year 2005-10 Chevy Cobalts, model year 2007-10 Pontiac G5s, and other compact cars. The concern is that of a risk for a sudden loss of power steering that can increase over time.

There have been more than 1,100 complaints regarding the sudden loss of power steering in compact car models involved in the recall. And the sudden loss of power steering has been blamed for several crashes and other minor injuries.

GM has argued that the vehicles can still be steered safely despite the loss power steering, although they are harder to steer at under 15 miles per hour. But in one complaint to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA ), a 2005 Cobalt driver ran into a telephone pole while turning into his driveway. In another complaint, another 2005 Cobalt driver claimed that the steering wheel jolted so severely when the power steering went out that it caused a sprained wrist.

Jamie Hresko, GM vice president of quality, stated that the loss of power steering takes time to develop and "...tends to occur in older models out of warranty." When the condition occurs, a chime sounds and a "power steering" message flashes on the dashboard.

GM recommends that if they notice any problem with their power steering, owners should take their vehicle to their dealer to have the steering mechanism checked out.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a Chevy or Pontiac with power steering problems, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a qualified personal injury attorney for an evaluation of your case.