General Motors recalls cars in UAE

UAE motorists are being urged to contact their dealers after a minor fault was discovered in the fuel control system.

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ABU DHABI // Thousands of UAE motorists who have bought General Motors vehicles are being urged to contact their dealers after a minor fault was discovered in the fuel control system. The defect concerns a faulty seal that can allow water to leak into the fuel system of some models causing the engine to cut out or make it difficult to start.

GM stressed the fault did not put the cars at extra risk of catching fire and said only cars purchased within the past 12 months were affected. Saada Hammad, a spokesman for GM's Middle East division, said the defect "is not an actual hazard". More than 140,000 GM cars were sold in the Middle East last year, around 22,000 of these in the UAE. All owners of Cadillac Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL bought in the Emirates during the past year are urged to call their dealer.

A total of 1,202 cars sold through branches of Al Kendi and Ben Hamouda Cars were thought to have the fault. The vehicles will be fitted with a replacement fuel system control module, free of charge. The Consumer Protection Department of the Ministry of Economy issued a press statement last week announcing the start of the recall. GM said if people quoted the vehicle identification number to their dealer they would be able to tell whether or not the vehicle could be affected.

The recall was launched on Thursday and dealers have also begun calling owners whose cars need to be altered. chamilton@thenational.ae