The GM recall affects Hummer H3s produced since 2006.
Associated Press | General Motors is recalling all Hummer H3s
produced since the 2006 model year to fix a portion of the hood that
can detach during driving. The voluntary recall affects 164,190 Hummer
H3s and H3Ts in the U.S. and 198,404 worldwide.
Hummer spokesman Nick Richards says a device on the hood called a hood louver can come loose and possibly detach while driving. The device helped to cool the engine on older Hummer models but is decorative on the H3.
Richards says the repair involves applying an adhesive to refasten the louver to the hood. He says there have been two complaints of the problem in the U.S. and three in Japan.
GM is in the process of shutting down Hummer after an attempt to sell the brand to a Chinese buyer fell through earlier this year.
I purchaced an H3 in November of 2008, and experienced this very problem in December of 2008. What I found that causes the panel tabs to break, and the panel to seperate from the hood, is that the chromium (matalic) outer finish, contracts (shrinks) with the cold, causing the panel to warp. On my H3, I observed the right-side corner, nearest the windshield, raise as much as three inches, as the temperature lowered. As the temperature increased, the louver panel would lower back down to the hood. I tried to remedy the problem by applying windshield urathane adhesive between the louver panel and hood, but it did not work. I then purchase aftermarket billet handles, having to drill through the hood and installing bolts. The handles were somewhat cheaper than a replacement louver panel, which I now know would have reoccured. I had no idea this was a systemic problem at the time, or I would have taken it to the dealer.