The 2011 Buick LaCrosse was one of two GM vehicles included in the recent recall. The other was the 2011 Cadillac SRX.
General Motors Corp. (GM) has issued a recall for 10,179 vehicles due to a software glitch that may disable the driver’s ability to adjust the windshield defroster.
The recall, reported to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration on March 4, includes 1,229 Buick LaCrosse vehicles manufactured between February 14 and February 19, 2011, and 8,950 Cadillac SRX vehicles, manufactured between December 7, 2010, and February 18, 2011. The company says the vehicles do not conform to Federal/Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 103, “Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems.”
“On these vehicles, software in the Electronic Climate Control module may disable the ability to adjust the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) settings,” writes GM in its letter to NHTSA reporting the problem.
GM adds, “If this condition affects the defrost system when it is required, it may decrease the driver’s visibility, and could result in a crash.”
The control system in question was manufactured by Behr-Hella Thermocontrol GmbH in Lippstadt, Germany. GM will begin contacting customers “on or before March 11,” and dealers will re-calibrate the electrical system free of charge, as all of the vehicles still are under warranty, according to its letter to NHTSA.
