Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana Recall Issued Due to Faulty Alternator

Engine fire risks have led General Motors Co. to recall about 5,000 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana passenger and cargo vans from their 2010 model year. 

The vans, manufactured and sold in February and March, are suspected of having a faulty alternator that could cause an engine fire. The GM van recall has led the company to halt production of the vehicles until they can be certain they have solved the problem with the design.

The recalls were announced on Friday, affecting all heavy Express 2500 and 3500 series vans with vehicle identification numbers (VIN) that end in A1129327 through A1142523. GMC Savana 2500 and 3500 series vans being recalled have VINs that end with A1128784 through A1901915.

GM said that about 1,300 of the vans had been sold to fleet customers, while the rest were sold as individual units. The company is recommending that drivers stop using the vans, park them away from other vehicles and buildings, and disconnect both battery cables. The company has not released information on when it would call the vans back to dealerships to be repaired.

In addition to the vans, about 1,400 AC Delco heavy duty alternators are also being recalled. The alternators were placed in 2005-2010 Express or Savana vans in February and March as replacement alternators. The affected alternators have part numbers 15200110; 15288861; 15263859 and 15847291. GM is recommending that drivers of vehicles with these alternators, or if the alternator was replaced in February or March and they cannot identify the part number, stop using them and follow the same safety recommendations as the recalled Express and Savana vans.

The company did not indicate whether there had been any fire incidents or injuries in connection to the defective alternators.

Photo Courtesy of IFCAR via Wikimedia Commons