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GM recalling another 2.7 million vehicles in five separate campaigns

The recalls keep rolling in from General Motors, evidently keen to avoid repeating the mistakes of the ignition-switch debacle and clean house. This time they're all coming at once, with five separate recalls announced together covering approximately 2.7 million vehicles.
The largest of the five actions involves over 2.4 million units of the previous-generation Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura in order to fix brake light wiring harness, which have been found to be susceptible to corrosion. The recall is separate from the 56k Aura sedans which GM recently recalled over faulty shift cables, not to mention the previous massive recall of 1.3 million vehicles - some of them the same models - but appears to have resulted from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation that started with the G6 almost a year ago.
The second-largest campaign involves the 2014 Chevy Malibu, specifically those fitted with GM's 2.5-liter engine and stop/start system, approximately 140,000 examples of which has been found to have problematic brakes. The issue does not appear to be connected to the recall of 8k Malibu and Buick LaCrosse sedans (also involving brake woes) which we reported upon last week. Four crashes have been reported in such models, but GM admits it's not yet clear if the problem was a contributing factor in the accidents.

Next-gen GMC Terrain teased looking chiseled in AT4 trim

The next-generation GMC Terrain is coming soon, as GMC just dropped its first teaser of the redesigned compact crossover. It makes sense that GMC is re-doing the Terrain now, as its Bowtie-badged equivalent, the Chevrolet Equinox, was just completely redesigned, too. GMC teased the new Terrain in its most rugged AT4 trim, and the look sure is a bold one from this partial front-end view. From the headlights to the upright grille and chiseled hood, this Terrain is looking more Yukon- and truck-like than ever before. Expect the AT4 version seen here to mirror the Equinox Activ trim from an equipment perspective by adding all-terrain tires wrapping smaller-diameter wheels for a legit boost off-road. It may also feature a unique front bumper for improved approach angle. As for the interior, spy photos have shown that it will differ significantly from its Chevy cousin. Those photos show a tall, vertically-oriented screen that takes its cues from the GMC Acadia. There isn’t much in the way of details provided by GMC, but the company does let on that the new Terrain – this will be its third generation – will have a “bolder, more assertive design” throughout the vehicle. Based on the Equinox, we're expecting it to get the same turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 175 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel and front-wheel drivetrains will likely be offered as well. A full reveal isnÂ’t planned until “later this year,” leading us to believe this Terrain will be a 2025 model year vehicle just like the Equinox is. ItÂ’s also scheduled to launch after the refreshed Yukon, which GMC says is coming along later this year, too. Related video:

U.S. new-vehicle sales in 2018 rise slightly to 17.27 million [UPDATE]

DETROIT — Sales of new vehicles in the U.S. rose slightly in 2018, defying predictions and highlighting a strong economy. Automakers reported an increase of 0.3 percent over a year ago to 17.27 million vehicles. The increase came despite rising interest rates, a volatile stock market, and rising car and truck prices that pushed some buyers out of the new-vehicle market. Industry analysts and automakers said strong economic fundamentals pushed up sales and should keep them near historic highs in 2019. "Economic conditions in the U.S. are favorable and should continue to be supportive of vehicle sales at or around their current run rate," Ford Chief Economist Emily Kolinski Morris said after the company and other automakers announced their sales numbers Thursday. That auto sales remain near the 2016 record of 17.55 million is a testimonial to the strength of the economy, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics. The job market, he said, has created new employment, and wage growth has accelerated. "That's fundamental to selling anything," he said. "If there are lots of jobs and people are getting bigger paychecks, they will buy more." The unemployment rate is 3.7 percent, a 49-year low. The economy is thought to have grown close to 3 percent last year, its best performance in more than a decade. Consumers, the main driver of the economy, are spending freely. The Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate four times in 2018 but is only expected to raise it twice this year. Auto sales also were helped by low gasoline prices and rising home values, Zandi said. It all means that people are likely to keep buying new vehicles this year even as they grow more expensive. The Edmunds.com auto-pricing site estimates that the average new vehicle price hit a record $35,957 in December, about 2 percent higher than the previous year. It will be harder for automakers to keep the sales pace above 17 million because they have been enticing buyers for several years now with low-interest financing and other incentives, Zandi said. He predicts more deals in the coming year as job growth slows and credit tightens for higher-risk buyers. Edmunds, which provides content, including automotive tips and reviews, for distribution by The Associated Press, predicts that sales will drop this year to 16.9 million.