GM recalls 370k large pickups for possible fire issue

General Motors displays its 2014 GMC Sierra full-size pickup truck after unveiling it and the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado full-size pickup truck in Pontiac, Michigan, US, on December 13, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

General Motors Co said on Friday it was recalling about 370,000 of its redesigned full-size Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks globally to reprogram software that could cause parts of the exhaust to overheat and lead to fire.

GM said eight fires had been caused by the problem, but there were no injuries. The company said all of the fires had occurred in very cold places, and it urged customers to avoid leaving trucks idling unattended.

The No 1 US automaker said the recall included 2014 model trucks with 4.3 liter and 5.3 liter engines in the United States, Canada, Mexico and other markets. Trucks with 6.2 liter engines were not being recalled.

GM said signs of the problem were a continuous yellow "check engine light" and an "engine power reduced" message in the driver information center.

It said recall letters would be mailed next Thursday, but customers could contact dealers for appointments beginning early next week. It said the repair would take about 20 minutes.

Of the trucks recalled, about 303,813 are in the United States, about 26,000 in Canada, about 665 in Mexico and about 7,753 in export markets, said company spokesman Alan Adler.

Adler said all the numbers were preliminary and that as of late Friday the total number of vehicles being recalled was 370,000.

General Motors displays its 2014 Chevrolet Silverado full-size pickup truck after unveiling it and the 2014 GMC Sierra full-size pickup in Michigan, US, on December 13, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]