GM issues largest recall this year, more than 500,000 cars affected

General Motors, the largest US automaker, on Tuesday recalled more than a half million cars and pickup trucks for safety-related defects.

The affected cars are 469,000 Chevrolet Malibus built in 2011 and 2012 and about 53,000 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickup trucks.

The problem with the Malibus is the safety belt. A steel cable connected to the safety belt can fail over time. It is GM's largest recall of the year, according to the Detroit News.

The other vehicles have a problem in their seats, which may not be properly anchored.

GM knows of 36 claims, no crashes or fatalities and one minor injury reportedly related to the problem with the Malibus. It knows of no crashes or injuries related to the pickup trucks.

The number of vehicles the US automaker has recalled has declined this year after last year's record-setting 26.95 million recalled vehicles.