General Motors Recalls More than 9,000 Pickup Trucks

General Motors has announced two separate recalls affecting about 10,000 pickup trucks because of defects that could lead to crashes.

"GM recalled more than 9,000 Chevrolet Colorado and GM Canyon trucks for the model year 2011 because these vehicles may have been built with an automotive transmission clip that could slip and inaccurately show the position of the transmission gear," according to a Reuters report in the Daily Press.

A notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the potentially dangerous defect meant a driver could move the shifter to the Park position, but the transmission gear would not necessarily be in park, and the vehicle could roll away and cause a crash.

The Daily Press reported that GM also is recalling some other 2011 pickup trucks because bolts on the steering shaft may not have been tightened to correct specifications. This defect affects 891 trucks in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Models affected are the 2011 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado and GM Sierra trucks.

Our experienced Virginia (VA) personal injury attorneys have reported on a number of cases in which defects have led to recalls in the auto industry. Some defects in GM cars and trucks have even led to lawsuits.

Among defects we have reported on were faulty gas tanks on 1979 Chevy Malibus manufactured by General Motors that were found to explode, causing burns and other injuries to car owners and mechanics, as well as problems with Firestone tires.

In recent years recalls issued by Toyota have made headlines. Earlier in 2011 Toyota issued a major recall of more than 2 million vehicles. Toyota said that the gas pedal can get stuck in the plastic pad part on the driver's side floor mat, if that floor mat isn't replaced properly after it's removed.

Tragically these issues have gone beyond recalls and have been linked to a loss of life. Last year, Toyota reached a settlement with family members in a wrongful death case brought after the death of California Highway patrolman, Mark Saylor. He had borrowed the Toyota-made Lexus from a dealer. He was killed along with his wife, Cleofe, their daughter and Cleofe's brother, Chris Lastrella, after the car accelerated suddenly and flew off an embankment. Other wrongful death lawsuits have been brought against Toyota.

DM