(September 9, 2012) DETROIT -- General Motors has stopped the sale of several of its most popular 2013 vehicles because of a software glitch that affects their OnStar communication systems, Automotive News reported Friday.

GM spokesman Alan Adler told the Automotive News late Friday that GM is working to fix the problem on 60,000 vehicles on dealer lots. The affected models are the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze, Equinox and Volt; the Cadillac XTS and ATS; the Buick Verano and the GMC Terrain. The 2012 Cadillac SRX is also affected.

"This should be wrapped up in days, maybe into next week," Adler said.

A software problem prevents OnStar's crash notification system from sending an alert to the OnStar call center in accidents that do not trigger an airbag deployment, such as a rear-end collision, Adler said.

The software glitch does not affect the crash notification system in more-severe accidents that set off the airbags, he said, nor does it prevent the airbags from deploying.

The operation of the OnStar emergency button is not affected and should connect the driver to an emergency adviser as it does normally.

Some vehicles already are cleared for sale, after GM fixed them through a software upgrade flashed remotely through the OnStar system. But because that method hasn't worked on all of the affected vehicles, GM is having dealers fix the remainder through a manual upgrade on their lots.

Owners of the affected vehicles were notified of the problem in late August. Some of those models already have been fixed remotely, too, Adler said, though he could not say how many.

Source: Automotive News