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General Motors recalls 2011 Chevrolet Cruze sedans for steering wheel risk

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze has quickly climbed the sales charts but GM’s new compact sedan has hit its first roadblock as the automaker has announced the first recall over a risk of the steering wheel not being attached properly.

According to The Detroit News and the NHTSA, the new 2011 Chevy Cruze recall is based on a single car that had the steering wheel come loose – although there was no accident caused by the incident and no injuries. However, once GM received the report of the possible problem of the steering wheel being incorrectly fastened, they inspected over 2,000 still in their possession and hundreds more at dealerships around the country without finding another vehicle with a loose steering wheel.

Even though there has been only one instance of a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze steering wheel coming loose, this situation could make it near-impossible to control the vehicle once the wheel has become detached from the steering column. Toyota’s carelessness with safety procedures have taught American automakers a lesson and even though the likelihood is low, the risk of injury should it happen is high so GM is getting them back to dealers.

Over 100,000 Chevy Cruze sedans have been built and sold in the US without another report of this issue, but to be safe General Motors is recalling 2,100 units in the US and another 400 in Canada. The recall, which is expected to begin on April 12th, will ask those owners to return to the dealership where the steering wheel assembly will be inspected for proper tightness.

Source: The Detroit News, NHTSA

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