GM recalling 1.5 million vehicles over potential fire threat

General Motors Corp. is recalling 1.5 million vehicles because of potential engine fires.

About128,000 of the vehicles were sold in Canada.

GM Canada calls the recall aprecautionary measure for consumers. The company saysthere have been no reports of any fires or injuries.

Some of the recalled vehicles are no longer in production. The recall includes:

• The 1998-1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue.
• The 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix.
• The 1997-2003 Buick Regal.
• The 1998-2003 Chevrolet Lumina, Monte Carlo and Impala.

The problem involvesvehicles with a 3.8-litre V6 engine.There is the potential fordrops of oil to fall into the exhaust system, increasing the risk ofan enginefire.

If the exhaust manifold is hot enough, and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame, which may spread to the plastic spark-plug wire channel and beyond, according to a U.S. government website on highway safety.

"Dealers will remove the spark plug wire retention channel at the front of the engine and install two new spark plug wire retainers free of charge," says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.