Hummer EVs Risk Electrical Problem in Wet Conditions
» Posted October 24, 2022 • Resources | Share This Post
New Hummer EV owners who shelled out a ton of cash for their sport utility vehicles recently got a warning from federal regulators: the cars may have trouble with water.
Leaking water could cause certain control functions to fail, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently warned. Specifically, corrosion could prevent the operation of the driver’s side window, mirrors and door lock controls.
“The reality is that the issue stems from a problem with the Hummer’s build quality,” Lawrence Hodge writes for Jalopnik. “One area beneath the windshield and near the a-pillar is not properly sealed. If water enters through here, it could leak onto a connector which could corrode the terminals of the connector.”
That is not the only possible snafu for Hummer owners.
“Some customers may also report unwanted activation of the theft alarm system or random messages on the [Drivers Information Center] such as ‘service latch,’” NHTSA said in a technical service bulletin.
General Motors announced back in 2020 that it was reviving the hulking Hummer SUV, this time as an electric vehicle. The new Hummers, which come with a price tag of over $100,000, are part of a swath of plug-in vehicles unveiled by GM as it looks to ditch gas-powered cars.
The Hummer rollout has not exactly been smooth.
GM said in April that it was recalling a limited number of Hummer SUVs over malfunctioning tail lights. The company acknowledged that a software glitch to blame for the problem increased the risk of accidents.
In August, the carmaker issued a voluntary recall for certain Hummers because of problems with high-voltage battery pack connectors. The company said it was calling back the cars through GM’s “customer satisfaction program” at the time.
And Hummer is not the only model in the GM stable that has been plagued by defects.
The company said in April it was also recalling some 700,000 vehicles over a defect that could make them difficult to drive in wet weather: faulty windshield wipers. Late last year, GM called back some 15,000 vehicles because of a fuel pump defect that the company said could cause cars to stall unexpectedly.
How the California Lemon Law Works
Fortunately, GM and other car owners in California have some valuable rights and protections when it comes to malfunctioning vehicles.
The California lemon law requires car manufacturers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty.
The law also forces auto companies to buy back (or replace, in some cases) cars that they cannot or will not fix. That includes compensating the owner for the vehicle’s purchase price, as well as financing fees, rental car costs and other related expenses.
Speak with a California Lemon Law Attorney
If you are stuck with a lemon or locked in a dispute with a car manufacturer over repairs, the California lemon law attorneys at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help.
Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a lemon law attorney today.
