Holden recalls 27,000 Commodores for wiper fix

UPDATED: 24/06/2014 12:40pmHOLDEN has released its second safety recall for the Commodore large car range in less than a month, although this time it needs to fix failing windscreen wiper motors.

This latest recall, posted late last night, comes as a cold snap sweeps southern Australia, bringing high winds, driving rain and heavy snowfalls to many regions as winter arrives with a vengeance.

According to Holden, an incorrect application of grease may cause the windscreen wiper motor to fail in as many as 27,074 versions of both the previous-generation VE Commodore sedan, wagon and ute range and the latest-generation VF Commodores, as well as the long-wheelbase WM and WN models.

“If the defect occurs, the windscreen wipers may not work and visibility may be reduced, potentially posing an accident hazard to the driver and other road users,” the recall notice posted on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website says.

According to Holden, vehicles affected by the recall have a VIN range from 6G1EK8E49CL711575 to 6G1NP5E21EL946263.

Holden product communications manager Mark Flintoft said that the grease applied to the motor when it was installed was incorrectly applied, sparking the recall.

“There were a small number of instances where a problem with the wiper motor was reported under warranty claims from our dealerships,” Mr Flintoft said.

“We had 11 confirmed cases of this happening, and there were no crashes caused by it,” he said.

Holden will inspect the wiper motors in all vehicles brought back to dealerships, and apply a new type of replacement grease to the motor. If a motor needs replacing, Mr Flintoft said it would take about an hour for the fix to be applied, at no cost to the owner.

Holden's previous recall in May was to fix a seatbelt restraint that had the potential to rub through wiring for a pretensioner that helps to minimise injury in a crash. That recall affected about 46,000 Commodores.

The latest Holden recall – and the third for the large car range in three years – comes in the wake of numerous multimillion vehicle recalls announced in the US by parent company General Motors, some of which did not affect Australia.

Holden’s Commodore is enjoying a showroom renaissance, with sales of the large locally made car range enjoying a more than 60 percent leap in buyer interest so far this year.

One of every two sales made in the large family car segment so far this year has worn the Commodore badge.