General Motors has issued a vehicle defect recall for about 5,000 of its heavy duty vans because of potential engine fires. According to a UPI news report, the American auto maker is recalling 2010 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana passenger and cargo vans. This recall mainly concerns the 2500, three-quarter ton, and 3500, one-ton, Series vans. Company officials say that so far, they have not received any reports of accident or injuries relating to these vehicles.

Danger of Engine Fires

However, three fires did take place after the vans were manufactured and left the assembly plant. All of the recalled vans were manufactured between February and March. If you own one of these vehicles, please stop driving them. GM is not selling these vehicles any more. Van owners are asked to keep these vehicles outside and away from buildings, and also, disconnect the vehicle's battery cables. These defects do have the potential to cause major car accidents.

This is not the first recall in recent times for GM with regard to cars that can ignite. In April 2009, General Motors recalled nearly 1.5 million defective cars manufactured between 1997 and 2003 over the possibility of engine fires. That recall included certain models of mid-size and full-size passenger sedans under GM's Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac brands. The problem with the recalled vehicles then, involved a potential for oil to leak on the exhaust manifold during hard braking. Even during normal conditions, the exhaust manifold of a car could become very hot and oil that leaks and flows out below the manifold's heat shield could ignite and spread to the spark plug wires.

Auto Product Liability Issues

These dangerous and defective vehicles must be immediately fixed in order to prevent engine fires that could cause catastrophic injuries, death or serious property damage for consumers. Victims who have been injured by these and other defective autos would be well-advised to seek the counsel of an experienced personal injury lawyer who has a stellar track record against large domestic and foreign auto makers.

In any car crash involving a defective auto, the most important piece of evidence – the vehicle – must be preserved in its damaged condition, intact. The vehicle needs to be kept in its current state until it can be examined by an expert for vehicle product defects, mechanical malfunctions and other evidence. The best auto product defect law firms will always offer a free and comprehensive consultation to injured victims and their families.