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GM announces 3 new recalls affecting 1.7M vehicles in North America [w/video]

Still embroiled in the ongoing ignition switch recall, General Motors announced today three more discrete recalls, affecting a grand total of 1,546,900 vehicles in the US. The Detroit News reports that some 1.7 million vehicles are affected overall in North America. The first and largest of the trio of new recalls concerns some 1.18-million Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia crossovers from the 2008-2013 model years, Chevrolet Traverse from 2009-2013 (pictured above) and Saturn Outlook vehicles from 2008-2010. All of the crossover utilities may have an issue with the wiring harness for their seat-mounted side airbags. Apparently, the vehicles are equipped with a Service Air Bag warning light that, if ignored, "will eventually result in the non-deployment of the side impact restraints." Those restraints include the side airbags, a front-center airbag if the vehicle is so equipped and seatbelt pretensioners. Dealers of affected vehicles will be instructed to remove driver and passenger side airbag wiring harness connectors, and then "splice and solder the wires together." The second recall affects 303,000 Chevrolet Express (pictured right) and GMC Savana vans from model years 2009-2014, and with gross vehicle weights under 10,000 pounds. Said vehicles do not comply with a head impact requirement for unrestrained occupants, and will need a reworking of the instrument panel material to be sent back on the road. It doesn't sound as though there's a quick fix for this one, as the GM press release states: "Unsold vehicles have been placed on a stop delivery until development of the solution has been completed and parts are available." Finally, the third recall affects 63,900 Cadillac XTS luxury sedans from model years 2013 and 2014. A brake booster pump may be susceptible to corrosion by way of the relay, potentially causing and electrical short, overheating, melting of plastic components and even engine fires. GM says it is aware of two engine fires in unsold XTS models and two cases of melted parts. Repairs for the issues affecting the XTS have not not mentioned by GM in the release. The Detroit News is also reporting that along with news of the triple-recall, GM is taking a $300-million credit to help pay for the repair costs, and to deal with the ongoing costs associated with the ignition switch recall. In an attempt to explain just what GM has been doing in the face of these very serious issues, newly minted CEO Mary Barra has addressed the issues in a new video.

Despite strong profits, GM still fighting flat market share

Looking at the progress General Motors has made since it entered bankruptcy, it's easy to forget that the company still has a long way to go before it's the juggernaut it once was. A recent report from Reuters points out that, while GM is making money, it isn't making any gains in terms of US market share. Quite the opposite, really. Consider this factoid: In 1963, nearly half of the cars sold in the United States were from Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, GMC or Pontiac. Now, the company's US market share is stagnant at 17.9 percent. That same number is half of just Chevy's 1963 market share. This is all despite GM going on a binge replacing or updating its models. "Market share increases are not instantaneous," Mark Reuss told Reuters at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show. "We've got a lot of baggage. Don't underestimate what people though of us, or these brands, through these hardships and 30 years." The reasons for the stagnant market share are numerous. Reuters points out that retooling of factories and a focus on limiting incentives are both good things for profit, but not necessarily for market share. There's also the troubling turnover of the brand's marketing department. These issues don't change the fact that Chevrolet has lost 1.4 percent of its market share in two years, and that Cadillac - arguably GM's most improved brand overall - has lost 1.2 percent in the same period. Part of that can be blamed on GM's avoidance of fleet sales in favor of more profitable customer sales. "Our focus has really been on retail and that's where we've got the growth," said Alan Batey, GM's interim global marketing boss. "We want to grow GM and that means growing market share and profits, but it's not at all costs," Reuss said. News Source: ReutersImage Credit: paul bica - Flickr CC 2.0 Earnings/Financials Buick Cadillac GM GMC sales profits

2017 GMC Acadia starts at $29,995

The 2017 GMC Acadia has a lower price in addition to its smaller size and 700-pound weight loss. The latest model starts at $29,995 (including $925 destination) when it arrives at dealers this spring, which is $1,905 less than last year's base version. That low price is just for the front-wheel-drive only SL trim, but there are savings throughout the 2017 lineup. The least expensive all-wheel drive version comes on the SLE model for $35,375, versus $37,100 last year (after $925 destination). The top-spec all-wheel drive Denali now costs $47,845, compared to $50,815 for the 2016 version. You can check out the MSRP for each trim in the release below. The new All Terrain model costs $40,040 and gets a more sophisticated all-wheel drive system with an active twin clutch. GMC claims the layout improves performance in wet, snowy and icy conditions. However, the trim is only available in five-passenger configuration, and storage bins in the floor replace the third-row seat. The 2017 Acadia price is also competitive with some challengers in the segment. For example, a base 2016 Honda Pilot is more expensive at $31,045 (after $900 destination), and the top Elite is $47,470, which is barely cheaper than the Denali. A base 2016 Ford Explorer is more costly at $31,995 (after $945 destination), and the Platinum for $53,915 is several thousand more than a Denali. The latest Acadia offers customers a bounty of tech and efficient powertrains. The IntelliLink infotainment system has support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there're available safety systems like front pedestrian braking and a surround view camera. Most models come with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which GMC estimates gets 22 miles per gallon city and 28 mpg highway with front-wheel drive. A 310-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 offers an estimated 25 mpg highway for front-wheel drive models. Both powertrains use a six-speed automatic. Related Video: 2017 GMC Acadia starting at $29,995 Drives to heart of midsize SUV segment with lower starting price, more features DETROIT – GMC announced today pricing for the all-new 2017 Acadia will start at $29,995 when it goes on sale this spring. The base price is $1,905 less than the 2016 base model and the new Acadia offers more standard equipment, including a new IntelliLink system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility (User interfaces are products of Apple and Google and their terms and privacy statements apply.