GM recalls 231,000 SUVs for fire risks

US General Motors Co. will recall about 231,000 older SUVs over fire risks and urged owners to park them outside garages until they are repaired, media report said Monday.

The Detroit-based automaker agreed to recall 193,000 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, SAAB 9-7x, Isuzu Ascender and 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL in the United States. The recall also includes 3,546 in Canada, 4,876 in Mexico and 30,000 outside North America, the Detroit News said.

According to the report, fluid may enter the driver's door, causing rust that could result in a short in the circuit board. The short may cause overheating, which could melt components of the door module, producing odor, smoke, or a fire.

At least 28 door fires were reported, including some when the vehicle was left unattended. GM told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in December it had reports of six injuries and two reports of property damage. This is the second recall of 2006-2007 GM SUVs for the issue since August. GM has now recalled about 440,000 vehicles to address the issue.

The move is an expansion of a recall from last August to check 249,000 SUVs for a short in a circuit board in the driver's door that could lead to a fire. The expanded recall came after government pressure and a lengthy NHTSA investigation. GM said then it would recall 249,000 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer SUVs and other similar SUVs that were sold or currently registered in 20 "salt belt states" across the US

After talks with NHTSA, GM agreed this week to launch a recall for the remaining vehicles. It will begin the recall starting July 24. With the expansion of the recall, GM has now recalled nearly 443,000 SUVs related to the issue in the United States.