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Earlier this month, General Motors (GM) announced plans to recall nearly 250,000 vehicles, equipped with power windows, due to a potential electrical malfunction in the master control switch located in the driver’s door.  GM reportedly traced this condition to water intrusion into the driver’s door cavity resulting in corrosion and abnormally high electrical resistance in the power window circuit.  Excess electrical resistance creates abnormally high temperatures, which can lead to melting and burning of the affected components.

According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a total of nearly 700 complaints and warranty claims have been reported describing melting or burning within the driver’s door, and a total of 28 reported fires.  The recall includes 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, Buick Rainer, GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender, and Saab 9-7X originally sold and/or registered in 21 Northeastern “salt-belt” states including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.

This latest recall by GM echoes a similar investigation currently underway by the NHTSA and Toyota involving overheated window switches in as many 1.4 million Toyota vehicles. If you have any questions about this recall, or would like to further discuss it with Scott King, BSME, contact him at 215-659-2010 or via email at experts@forensicDJS.com.

, with DJS Associates, Inc., can be reached via email at experts@forensicDJS.com or via phone at 215-659-2010.