DETROIT -- General Motors Co. is recalling 13,780 Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS cars in the United States because of a flaw that can cause power-steering fluid to leak and ignite a fire in the engine.
Chrysler, meanwhile, said it plans to recall 16,000 Jeep Liberty SUVs to fix faulty windshield wiper systems, according to The Associated Press.
The company is targeting model year 2010 and 2011 Lucerne and DTS vehicles following reports of two fires related to electrical arcing triggered by leaking fluid coming into contact with the starter or alternator cable, according to a letter on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Web site today.
No injuries were reported in the fires, Alan Adler, a spokesman for Detroit-based GM, said in an interview.
The automaker concluded the starter and alternator cables were incorrectly installed so they touch a power-steering line, it said in the letter to NHTSA, the U.S. auto-safety regulator.
GM will repair the cars, which are under warranty, free of charge to owners. The recall totals 14,245 cars worldwide, GM said in a statement on its Web site.
The company this year has recalled 1.53 million cars and trucks for a windshield-wiper flaw that may cause fires, and 303,100 Impala cars in the U.S. because seat belts in the front seat may not be properly anchored and may fail to restrain passengers in a crash.
Wiper problems
In the Chrysler recall, the automaker said the wiper problem involves certain 2008 Jeep Liberty SUVs, the AP said. Chrysler said water could get into the windshield wiper motor of the Jeeps and stop the wipers.
Chrysler said no crashes or injuries have been tied to the recalls, the AP reported.
Jeep dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor free of charge, according to the report, and the recall is expected to begin this month.
