GM recalls 1.3 million more cars over potential loss of power steering

General Motors is recalling 1.3 million more cars for power steering loss.

The latest recall includes the 2004-2006 Pontiac G6, Chevrolet Malibu, and Malibu Maxx, 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo models) and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt.

At issue is a potential loss of power steering. GM has been involved with this particular problem since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began an investigation in December 2010, which forced GM to disclose it had received nearly 3,500 complaints from Ion owners.

Since the start of February, GM has recalled more than 6 million cars and is now facing the wrath of multiple federal investigations and lawsuits.

The NHTSA did not provide recall documents explaining the problem in greater detail. GM said dealers would replace one or a combination of parts, including the power steering motor, steering column and the motor control unit. Owners who paid for these repairs earlier will be reimbursed by GM. The carmaker said it would also give out lifetime warranties for the power steering motor for other non-recalled models, including the 2006-2009 Chevrolet HHR and 2003 Saturn Ion.

On Friday, GM recalled more than 490,000 pickups and SUVs, including the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, as well as the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL. On those vehicles, the transmission oil cooler could leak. GM also recalled more than 170,000 Chevrolet Cruze sedans from 2013-2014 due to half-shafts on the front axle that can fail. Still on the same day, GM recalled an additional 971,000 cars for faulty ignition switches that had previously covered 1.62 million recalled cars in February. Two weeks earlier, GM recalled 1.54 million cars for faulty airbags, brake boosters and non-compliant dashboard material.

GM still has several more vehicle investigations pending within the NHTSA. One involves 1.77 million full-size SUVs and pickup trucks from 1999 to 2003 for brake line corrosion that can lead to increased stopping distances. GM and the NHTSA also received more than 1,300 complaints for brake light malfunctions on 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 models, which were not included in last year’s recall of just under 10,000 cars in the US. None of these investigations have been escalated to a recall either by the NHTSA or GM.

GM CEO Mary Barra is scheduled to testify Tuesday before the US House Energy and Commerce Committee on the ignition switch recalls.

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