DETROIT - General Motors and Isuzu are recalling more than 258,000 SUVs in the U.S. and Canada to fix short circuits in power-window and door-lock switches that can cause fires.
The recall covers Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Isuzu Ascender and Saab 97-X SUVs from the 2006 and 2007 model years. The SUVs were sold or registered in 20 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and Canada, where salt and other chemicals are used to clear roads in the winter.
GM has reports of 28 fires. It doesn't know of any injuries.
Fluid containing the road-clearing chemicals can get inside the driver's door and cause corrosion in the power-window and door-switch circuit boards, according to documents posted on the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. The corrosion can cause short circuits, knocking out the switches and causing fires.
The recall affects SUVs sold or registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Dealers will replace the power-window switch for free, according to NHTSA documents posted Saturday, and owners will get letters telling them when to schedule appointments.
GM also will make repairs at no cost to owners living in states not covered by the recall, spokesman Alan Adler said in an email.
The NHTSA started investigating the SUVs in February after getting a dozen complaints of fires.
GM manufactured the Ascender for Isuzu, and Saab was part of GM when the SUVs were built.
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