GM Issues New Recall Over Possible Fuel Leaks, 40859 Vehicles Affected

GM has issued a new recall of more than 40,000 cars in warm-weather states after a plastic part could crack and cause a fuel leak.

General Motors Co. issued the recall for Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 sedans in the 2007 to 2009 model years, as well as Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent SUVs and Saturn Ion sedans in the 2007 model year, reports ABC News.

Vehicles that were sold or are currently registered in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, and Texas are affected, while owners in Arkansas and Oklahoma are included in the 2009 Cobalt and G5 recall.

The cars all have plastic parts that are attached to the fuel pump. The plastic piece could crack and fuel could leak out and cause a fire.

GM assures that there are no reports of any fires or injuries related to the defect, but the company still began the investigation in 2011, after a dealer reported seeing fuel leaking from some vehicles.

USA Today notes that the company’s warranty data shows that the problem is more common in warm-weather states than anywhere else. Therefore, the GM recall will include just those states, and the company will repair the problem for free.

The company will also send letters to owners in other states that offer a free repair withing 10 years of 120,000 miles from the purchase date of the car, according to GM spokesman Alan Adler.

GM also recently issued a recall due to sedan transmission problems that affected more than 400,000 cars.