GM recalls 1.3 million cars for power steering defect already fixed once

A day before General Motors executives testify to Congress about the botched recall of 2.6 million cars that left at least 13 people dead, the automaker revealed yet another recall, this time for 1.3 million cars with faulty power steering units.

While the problem as described by GM has not been linked to any deaths, it has been the target of a previous recall — along with a three-year federal investigation into why GM recalled only some of the cars built with the defective part.

This step comes on the same day that GM chief executive Mary Barra told lawmakers that the automaker didn't know why it left bad ignition switches in its vehicles for more than a decade. And GM now says its rash of recent recalls will cost at least $750 million this quarter.

"I cannot tell you why it took years for a safety defect to be announced in that program, but I can tell you that we will find out," Barra says in her prepared testimony for Tuesday's hearing with a U.S. House subcommittee. "When we have answers, we will be fully transparent with you, with our regulators, and with our customers."

The new recall covers the following models:

• Chevrolet Malibu: All model year 2004 and 2005, and some model year 2006 and model year 2008 and 2009 vehicles
• Chevrolet Malibu Maxx: All model year 2004 and 2005, and some 2006 model year
• Chevrolet HHR (Non-Turbo): Some model year 2009 and 2010 vehicles
• Chevrolet Cobalt: Some model year 2010 vehicles
• Saturn Aura: Some model year 2008 and 2009 vehicles
• Saturn Ion: All model year 2004 to 2007 vehicles
• Pontiac G6: All model year 2005, and some model year 2006 and model year 2008 and 2009 vehicles.