GM, Nissan recall 1.56M vehicles for safety issues

General Motors Co. is recalling 1.3 million Chevrolet and Pontiac vehicles in North America to fix power-steering systems after federal regulators received more than 1,100 consumer complaints about failures.

Nissan Motor Co., meanwhile, said it will recall about 260,000 pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, and minivans in the United States to fix problems with brake pedals and fuel gauges.

GM will replace a motor in the power-steering systems of Chevrolet Cobalt small cars and three Pontiac models, the Detroit car maker said. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began an investigation after complaints that included 14 crashes and one injury, GM said.

The action follows global recalls of more than 8 million vehicles by Toyota Motor Corp. for issues including unintended acceleration, which have prompted lawsuits and congressional hearings. The cases have triggered a review of the safety agency by the U.S. Transporta-tion Department's inspector general to examine the way government investigators monitor automobile defects.

"A lot of car makers are coming out with recalls as they want to show that they are being strict about quality," said Jeong Min-pak, a senior director at Fitch Ratings in Seoul. "They want to avoid the negative press that Toyota has received."

The vehicles covered by GM's action are the 2005-10 Cobalt, 2007-10 Pontiac G5, the 2005-06 Pontiac Pursuit, sold in Canada, and the 2005-06 Pontiac G4, sold in Mexico. A remedy is being developed, and customers will be notified when the plan is completed, the GM statement said.

The vehicles can still be steered when the power-steering system fails, although it requires greater effort, a GM official said. The company reported U.S. sales of 104,724 Cobalts last year.

On its recall, Nissan said brake pedals on certain 2008-10 Titan pickups and Armada sport utility vehicles and some 2008 and 2009 Quest minivans can come loose and cause reduced braking force. No injuries or crashes have been reported. Customers with loose brake pedals should contact their dealers.

The automaker also is recalling certain 2005-09 Armadas and Titans and some 2006 and 2008 Frontier pickups and Xterra and Pathfinder SUVs for potentially faulty gas gauges. The gauges can show a quarter tank of gas when the tank is empty.

Owners will be notified when to bring their vehicles in for repairs.