Chevrolet wins award for lamest recall of the year thus far
There's nothing as exciting as accidentally forgetting a three-digit code to force a recall of nearly 33,000 vehicles.
There are many serious recalls out there -- Takata airbag inflators, hoods that may open at speed, suspension parts that may corrode and fall off. There are also many seriously lame recalls out there, and Chevrolet might have issued the lamest of the year.
Chevrolet's recalling some 33,000 examples of the 2016 Cruze sedan, thanks to some missing numbers. Its headlight assemblies are not marked with a specific identifier code, which is used to aim the headlights correctly.
Incorrectly aimed headlights can blind oncoming traffic or fail to sufficiently illuminate the road ahead. That missing code also means the cars run afoul of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment." No matter how minor, not complying with FMVSS means the car needs to be recalled.
Thankfully, fixing this doesn't even require a trip to the dealer. Chevrolet will mail out adhesive labels that owners can add to the headlight assembly, bringing it up to regulatory snuff. However, dealers will assist in installation if owners require it. There's no word on when they'll be mailed out, though.
