GM recalls over 40,000 Chevy, Pontiac and Saturn vehicles over fuel leak problem

General Motors is recalling 40,859 Chevrolet, Pontiac and Saturn vehicles over fuel leakage concerns. The recall is somewhat complicated and only concerns certain vehicles sold or registered in several warm-weather states. Specifically, GM is recalling select 2007 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent vehicles originally sold or presently registered in Arizona, California, Nevada, or Texas; 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, and Saturn ION models sold, or presently registered in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, or Texas; 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or presently registered in Arizona; and 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 models originally sold, or currently registered in, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oklahoma, or Texas.

Affected vehicles possess a condition in which the fuel pump’s return port may crack, causing a fuel leak. When coupled with an ignition source, fuel leakage may spark a fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Although the NHTSA received the recall report on Sept. 19, GM has yet to provide a customer notification schedule. That said, GM should begin notifying owners of the recall shortly. Affected models will receive a new fuel pump module, free of charge. In the meantime, customers may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300 or the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236. GM’s campaign number is 12190.

The newly announced recall is an expansion of recall 09V-419, which was issued in October 2009. GM’s previous recall affected 2006-2007 Chevrolet Cobalts, 2007 Pontiac G5s and 2006-2007 Saturn ION vehicles. The total number of units affected was 52,937.

This week’s safety recall comes just a week after GM announced a massive recall of over 426,000 vehicles. The recall concerned select model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles. The affected models were recalled due to a transmission problem that causes the vehicles to roll when they are supposed to be in park.

Fire-related recalls have not been uncommon for GM in recent months. Last month, the automaker issued a substantial recall on over 250,000 Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Saab SUVs over door fire concerns. Furthermore, GM also issued two separate recalls on the 2013 Ford Escape due to fire risks.