General Motors and Isuzu are recalling more than 258,000 SUVs after getting reports of 28 fires apparently caused by short-circuits in the cars’ power windows and door locks.
The recall covers many vehicle makes from the 2006 and 2007 model years, including the Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, BuickRainier, Isuzu Ascender, and Saab 97-X.
Though there haven’t been reports of injuries, the blazes have been fairly dramatic. “The fire burned the entire driver’s side of the vehicle, a portion of the front passenger seat, and the roof,” explained one woman whose car caught fire in her driveway.
The danger exists primarily in states that use salts and other chemicals to clear their roads of ice. Those chemicals can get inside the driver’s door, corroding the circuits and ultimately causing them to short out and catch fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Take your car back to the dealer, and it’ll replace the switches free of charge.
via BMS
