Cruze sales halt lifted tonight

LORDSTOWN

Tens of thousands of Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cruzes have mechanical air-bag issues that led to a nationwide sales halt that was lifted tonight.

”We’ve been able to identify approximately 33,000 vehicles that have been built with a bad part. So, we’re in the process of lifting the stop sale on most of the cars” inventoried at dealerships, said Jim Cain, GM spokesman.

Tom Mock, GM Lordstown spokesman, confirmed the blanket stop-delivery order was lifted late today.

The vehicles affected are certain 2013 and 2014 Cruzes. A bad part in the steering wheel air bag is the problem.

Before identifying the number of vehicles affected, GM notified dealerships in the U.S. and Canada on Tuesday to halt sales and deliveries of 2013 and 2014 Cruzes.

“They’re not recalled yet ... We’re working towards a recall,” Cain said.

Cain said the halt notice was issued Tuesday to figure out exactly how many bad parts were shipped and were installed.

The halt notice came after GM announced earlier this month that Cruze sales were up 41 percent from last year with 32,393 sold in May compared to 23,055 in May 2013.

Already GM is embroiled in recalls and congressional scrutiny over faulty ignition switches for several vehicles, including the Cruze’s Lordstown-built predecessor, the Chevrolet Cobalt. He reminded owners to keep just the key on the ring, and no additional weight.

For the Cruze air bag, Cain explained, “It’s a mechanical issue, and it’s the same supplier involved in the Toyota recall.”

The Toyota recall was announced Monday and its supplier is Takata Corp., a Tokyo-based supplier of seat belts, steering wheels and other auto parts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation this month after getting six reports of air bags rupturing in Florida and Puerto Rico.

Read more about the problem in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.