According to the Associated Press, GM CEO Dan Akerson has said General Motors will buy back anyChevrolet Volt from owners who are concerned about the vehicle’s fire risk. Akerson said that his company isn’t making the move because the plug-in hybrids are unsafe, but because GM is committed to keeping its customers happy. The CEO also said that GM is prepared to recall the 6,000 Volt models currently on the road if the federal government deems such an action necessary. As you may recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that the Volt could catch fire several days after a severe side-impact crash and rollover.

NHTSA found that the vehicles could ignite anywhere from seven days to three weeks after the initial impact. GM believes the fires are a result of a failure in the battery pack’s cooling system because the NHTSA test involved an intrusion of four-to-five inches into the vehicle’s battery pack. Current testing standards call for no more than two inches of intrusion.

GM initially promised free loaner vehicles to any customer concerned with the safety of their Volt, and later said that the battery pack could be redesigned to better guard against this type of failure.

On June 29, a woman named Donna Trusky filled a class-action lawsuit against General Motors in Detroit. The subject was a defect in the suspension rods of the 2007-2008MY Chevrolet Impala, which caused the tires to wear prematurely – in Trusky’s case, after only 6,000 miles. As it turns out, GM had warned police departments about the issue and fixed the defective rods, but it did not do the same on the civilian cars.

General Motors seeks to dismiss the lawsuit, which could cost it millions of dollars as it potentially affects more than 400,000 cars. The company’s argument is that the warranty claim was honored by its predecessor, General Motors Corp, which is now called Motors Liquidation Co – or “Old GM”, after its 2009 bankruptcy and the subsequent bailout by the US government.

The “New GM”, the company claims, didn’t assume responsibility to recall the Impala, only to make repair “subject to conditions and limitations stated in express written warranties”.

In other words, the “New GM” says that Trusky is after the wrong company: the one she should be after is the now bankrupt “Old GM”. This argument held in court earlier this year in a case about the OnStar navigation system.

General Motors announced today that it isrecalling 11,905 2012MY Chevrolet Impala and 4,293 MY2012 Buick LaCrosse sedans sold in the US and in Canada over two separate issues.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, the 2012 Impala recall affects certain cars manufactured from April 19, 2011 through July 29, 2011 and concerns the installation of the power steering hose. If misplaced, the hose could be damaged and leak power steering fluid onto the engine compartment and the catalytic converter, with the risk of a fire.

From the 11,905 Chevys recalled, 10,334 have been sold in the USA and the rest in Canada. So far, there have been no recorded accidents or injuries related to the issue. GM dealers will inspect the upper power steering hose to ensure it is routed properly and, if necessary, make all repairs free of charge.

The recalled 2012 Buick LaCrosse sedans were manufactured from June 9, 2011 through July 2, 2011. The reason for the recall is failure to conform to federal motor vehicle standard No. 126 about the operation of Electronic Stability Control Systems (ESC).

General Motors has launched its new Kuncheng pickup at the Changchun International Automobile Fair in Changchun, Jilin, China. The first model from FAW-GM’s new manufacturing facility in Changchun, theKuncheng (best translated as ‘Earth Journey’) promises a better interior, more cargo capacity, improved handling, more modern styling and a priority on safety technology.

According to GM, the four-door truck will offer both 2.2-liter and 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines in either gasoline or diesel formats. The powerplants are equipped with “unique combustion, air-changing, lubrication and cooling technologies to maximize fuel efficiency and minimize emissions while generating low levels of noise,” says GM (without elaborating).

The automaker does define the safety equipment, citing anti-lock brakes and a “front impact-absorbing structure and four-door impact steel beams (to) help minimize damage in the event of a collision. Among the other safety features are three-point seat belts in front, a collapsible steering column, child-proof doors in back and a center high-mounted stop lamp.”

Not the sexiest of machines, then, but likely a capable workhorse.

Small vans are all the rage overseas, and General Motors has just unveiled its latest European offering, theOpel Combo. Like the majority of small vans found around the world, the Combo will be offered in short- and long-wheelbase forms – measuring 108.5 and 122.2 inches, respectively – and can be had as either a passenger van (with seating for five or seven) or a true cargo-friendly work van.

Obviously, the most attractive feature about the Combo is its cargo area. In short-wheelbase form, the Opel is capable of hauling up to 134.2 cubic feet of stuff, while the long-wheelbase Combo can manage 164.2 cubic feet of cargo.

Under the hood, six engines are available. Of the six, four are (naturally) diesels, with one 1.3-liter, two 1.6-liters and one 2.0-liter powerplant rounding off the choices. From there, a 1.4-liter gasoline engine is offered, as is a 1.4-liter CNG (compressed natural gas) version. All powertrains are available with start/stop for improved fuel economy, as well as a range of five- and six-speed manual transmissions.