Buick eAssist, Chevy Eco Hybrid Recall Questioned By NHTSABuick eAssist, Chevy Eco Hybrid Recall Questioned By NHTSA

Back in May, General Motors announced the recall of more than 38,000 Buick and Chevrolet mild hybrid sedans to check for a potentially defective electronic component.
Now, following a fire in a vehicle apparently repaired under the recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating whether GM’s recall went far enough.
The recall eventually covered just shy of 43,000 vehicles using GM’s eAssist mild hybrid system–the Buick LaCrosse and Regal eAssist models, and the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco.
An electronic generator module was said to be at fault, potentially overheating and causing the battery to lose charge. In extreme cases, GM added that there could also be a “burning or melting odor, smoke, and, in rare instances, a fire in the trunk.”
22,000 modules have already been replaced as part of the recall, with another 21,000 “screened” for issues.
However, The Detroit News reports that GM has details of a fire happening in a vehicle already screened under the recall, questioning whether the screening procedure was sufficient to identify the fault.
The vehicle caught fire in the trunk while undergoing an update procedure to the offending module.
If the NHTSA finds that GM’s original recall was not sufficient to fix potential issues in the component, another recall could be required to identify any units that may be at risk.
The recall does not affect models not equipped with the eAssist mild hybrid system.
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