GM Recalls 292,860 Cars on Account of Potential for Fire

07/10/96

General Motors Corporation will recall 292,860 Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Buick models from 1996 and 1997. Computers in the cars' engines have a software problem that could cause the cars to backfire, potentially leading to engine fires.

Most of the affected vehicles are in the U.S., and all have 3800 Series II X6 engines that were built before May 1, 1996. The recalled cars are the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville; the 1996 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight and Eighty Eight; the 1996 Buick Park Avenue, LeSabre, Riviera and Regal; and some 1997 Buick Le Sabres.

GM claims that there have been no injuries or accidents as a result of the problem, which stems from a faulty engine system sequence that can cause backfiring during start-up. The backfire, in turn, may crack the intake manifold, which could erupt into flames.

GM will notify owners by mail and ask them to bring their cars into dealerships so the powertrain control module software can be updated. The procedure should take less than an hour.

GM would not comment on how much the recall will cost, but one estimate puts it at $10 million, which is mainly dealership labor charges.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel