GM Holden issues second recall for Cruze car with same fault

HOLDEN is recalling its Cruze small car for the seventh time in five years with the latest the second recall for a fault identified last year.

HOLDEN is recalling its Cruze small car for the seventh time in five years — but the latest safety campaign is the second recall for a fault identified late last year.

GM Holden is in the process of contacting 2712 owners of Cruze 1.8-litre petrol manual sedans and hatches because the right-hand drive shaft “may fracture and separate”, which could bring the car to a “sudden” stop. Holden says no incidents have been reported in Australia.

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Holden recalled 681 Cruzes for the same drive shaft fault in September 2013 but is recalling most of those cars again, as well as an additional 2031 vehicles sold since then (to bring the tally to 2712) as a precautionary measure after an improved part became available for overseas models.

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A statement from Holden issued to News Corp Australia said: “We have been working closely with GM North America to better understand the condition. As a result, we have extended the build range of potentially affected vehicles to ensure all are fitted with the new improved certified drive shaft.”

The company added: “It should be noted that no vehicle fitted with a new drive shaft as part of the last (recall) has fractured. But in the best interest of our customers we are now asking them to come in to have an new improved certified drive shaft fitted (to their car).”

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The latest Cruze recall in Australia follows the recall of 172,000 Cruze models sold in North America for the same drive shaft fault.

Holden said it was important to note that the Cruze recall was not in any way associated with the recall of 4.8 million General Motors vehicles worldwide for a faulty ignition switch.

“No Holden vehicles are impacted in any way by the current GM recall regarding the ignition switch,” said Holden spokeswoman Kate Lonsdale.

GM’s North American recalls come just days before the company’s new CEO, Mary Barra, the first woman to head the car giant, is set to be grilled by US politicians over the company’s handling of safety defects in recent years.

More than 45,000 Holden Cruzes have been recalled in Australia over the past five years, more than a third of the 131,000 sold since 2009.

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling

Holden Cruze recalls in Australia

April 2014: 2712 cars recalled

Right-hand drive shaft may fracture and separate on 1.8-litre petrol manual models.

Sept 2013: 681 cars recalled

Right-hand drive shaft may fracture and separate on 1.8-litre petrol manual models.

August 2013: 11,480 cars recalled

The brakes may not work properly on the 1.4-litre turbo petrol automatic models.

June 2012 — 9,547 cars recalled

Oil trapped in the belly pan could be an ignition source and cause a fire on 1.4-litre turbo petrol models.

December 2011: 6,512 cars recalled

The fuel feed hose on diesel models could leak diesel fuel, and possibly catch fire.

May 2011: 4,236 cars recalled

Seat belt fault. Passengers seated in the driver’s side rear or centre seat may not be restrained properly.

March 2010: 10,462 cars recalled

Fuel feed hose fault in petrol models. The fuel feed hose may not have been manufactured correctly at the swagged end of the fuel hose to the fuel rail quick connector in the engine bay. A fuel leak may develop.

Source: recalls.gov.au