 WASHINGTON — General Motors is recalling more than 221,000 vehicles because of a parking-brake defect that can cause brake pads to stay partly engaged, which can lead to “excessive brake heat that may result in a fire,” according to documents posted Saturday on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website. The recall covers 205,309 vehicles in the United States and 16,249 elsewhere, said Alan Adler, a G.M. spokesman. It includes 2014-15 Chevrolet Impalas and 2013-15 model Cadillac XTS cars. G.M. said it was not aware of any crashes, injuries or deaths from the defect. N.H.T.S.A. said the fire risk stemmed from the rear brakes generating “significant heat, smoke and sparks.” The agency also warned that drivers of affected vehicles might experience “poor vehicle acceleration, undesired deceleration, excessive brake heat and premature wear to some brake components.” The Impala has been at the center of numerous recalls and investigations this year, as G.M.’s string of recalls worldwide approaches 30 million vehicles. In February, the 2014 Impala was recalled for a transmission defect that could allow a parked car to roll away. In June, certain Impalas were recalled for ignition problems, and others for a joint fastener that was not torqued to specification. Then in July, G.M. recalled more Impalas over a possible loss of power steering, and later that month N.H.T.S.A. opened an investigation into the potential... |
