Due to a defect where damaged circuit boards could cause smoke or fires, car manufacturer General Motors is recalling almost 200,000 sport-utility vehicles.
General Motors said in a press release that 193,652 vehicles made between 2005 and 2007 may be affected by the recall, including the Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender and Saab 9-7X.
The recalls were triggered by concerns over water getting inside the vehicles’ driver-side door, corroding a circuit board inside that can prevent power locks and windows from working and sometimes create smoke or fires inside the vehicle.
As the problem can cause fires even when the vehicle is not being used, owners of the cars have been advised by the manufacturer to park them outside until the problem can be remedied.
Nationwide, there have been 58 fires and 11 minor injuries from the defect.
A similar recall afflicted the manufacturer last summer, when another 258,000 vehicles in North America were recalled for the same reasons, though that recall only affected states in which salt or chemicals were used to clear snow and roads during winter.
Failing to find design flaws before releasing a product can lead to high maintenance expenses, which can be avoided with thorough testing.