General Motors announced three recalls affecting several 2011 model year vehicles, including its popular Chevrolet Cruze sedan–recently recalled for steering wheel concerns.

The latest recall of GM’s popular 2011 Chevrolet Cruze involves both a steering and a transmission issue.

During an investigation into steering wheels that came loose–a recall which affected some 2,000 Cruzes–GM says it discovered a wider issue. Roughly 154,000 Chevy Cruzes have steering columns that were improperly installed during manufacturing.

Customer complaints also helped GM identify a second problem, this time with the Cruze’s automatic transmission. An improperly installed linkage may inhibit the driver from shifting the Cruze into the proper gear. This defect affects about 120,000 of the sedans being recalled for steering issues, the company reports.

A spokesman for GM told the Detroit Free Press that the company believes about 30 to 40 percent of the affected sedans have not yet been sold to consumers and that no deaths or injuries resulting from either problem have been reported. However, since the Chevy Cruze is one of GM’s most popular models, the company is voluntarily issuing the recalls independent of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In addition, GM also announced two other safety alerts involving the automaker’s pickup trucks and full-sized vans.

The company warns that its 2011 model year Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickup trucks may have windshield washer arms with loose nuts, preventing them from operating properly. Roughly 6,300 trucks–over 4,600 of which were sold in the U.S.–may have this issue.

And 8,700 of its 2011 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans are being recalled for possible brake fluid leaks.

GM recalls Cruzes over steering shaft, transmission issues [Detroit Free Press]
GM recalls 170,000 ’11 models in three campaigns [Detroit News]
GM recalls 2011 Cruze cars to inspect steering shaft [Reuters]
In Sweeping Action, G.M. Recalls 154,000 Chevrolet Cruze Models [NY Times]

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