RECALL - GENERAL MOTORS CALLS BACK 276,729 VEHICLES, NHTSA SAYS

Sometime before the end of this month, General Motors dealers will start taking a look at shift cable adjustment clips in thousands and thousands of vehicles. Just what the doctor order for GM, no? No.

Due to Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard 102 and Federal Motors Vehile Safety Standard 114 which, respectively, say "Transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking affect," and, "Theft protection and rollaway prevention", 276,729 vehicles fall under one gigantic General Motors Recall that crosses brands and surely crosses into other countries, driving up the 276,729 number.

All vehicles involved are from the 2009 model year. The Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Cobalt, Chevrolet HHR, Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, Pontiac G5, Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura, and Saturn Outlook all stem - in one way or another - from three platforms. Oh, and the problem exactly: The shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match in these automatic-equipped cars. You can understand the potentially devastating results.