GM wipes out with recall of 50,000 Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave crossovers

General Motors has announced a recall of certain 2011 and 2012 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia models for wipers that may fail under heavy snow. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, snow or ice buildup may restrict the wiper movement, which may in turn lead to the wiper arm loosening from the vehicle. The ensuing reduced visibility could increase the risk of an accident. The recall only covers models currently registered in heavy snow states – about 50,000 units – including Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware and Idaho, among others. The full list may be found in the recall report after the jump.

GM is expected to begin notifying owners on Monday, April 16, and dealers will address the issue free of charge. In what sounds like one of the simpler and quicker recall fixes we can remember, dealer technicians will tighten the wiper arm nuts to prevent the wiper arms from becoming inoperable. Click past the jump for the full recall notice.


Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
BUICK / ENCLAVE 2011-2012
CHEVROLET / TRAVERSE 2011-2012
GMC / ACADIA 2011-2012

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS LLC Mfr's Report Date: APR 05, 2012

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 12V151000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

Potential Number of Units Affected: 50,001

Summary:
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, AND GMC ACADIA VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. SNOW OR ICE BUILDUP ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE WIPER RESTRICTS THE MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER ARM, THE WIPER ARM MAY LOOSEN AND CAUSE THE WIPER TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence:
IF THIS OCCURS, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy:
GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE WIPER ARM NUTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT APRIL 16, 2012.

Notes:
GM'S SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 12036. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.