2010-03-29 11:17

CHICAGO: General Motors Co is recalling about 5,000 heavy-duty vans because of a risk of engine fire, the company said Friday.

The vans involved in the recall are the 2010 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana passenger and cargo vans. The company also is halting production and sales of the vehicles "until a fix for a suspected faulty alternator can be determined."

GM spokesman Alan Adler said there have been no injuries or accidents reported in connection with the vans.

The company warned customers who purchased the vans, which were built in February and March, to stop driving them and park them outside away from buildings and other vehicles and, if possible, disconnect both battery cables.

Relatively few of the recalled vans are in the possession of retail customers, with about 1,300 in rental and other fleets,the company said.

GM issued a stop sale order on Friday, preventing the fleet-owned vans from being rented or those on dealer lots from being sold. Others are being held at dealerships or in ports before being exported.

Only the 2500, three-quarter ton, and 3500, one-ton, Series vans are affected. Light-duty (half-ton) Express and Savana vans use a different alternator.

It is rare for an automaker to halt sales because of a safety defect. GM's decision to stop sales of the vans comes two months after Toyota Motor Corp halted sales of eight models because of faulty accelerator pedals.