General Motors on Tuesday said it was recalling about 254,000 model year 2000-2003 Saturn L-Series cars equipped with 2.2 litre engines because of potential exhaust system failures that could result in fires, Reuters reported.

To remedy the problem, linked to seven reported fires but no crashes or serious injuries so far, GM said it would replace the ignition module and spark plugs in the vehicles, the report said, adding that, on 2002-2003 models, GM would also reprogramme the powertrain control module.

The replacements and reprogramming, affecting vehicles sold in the United States and Canada, will be performed at no cost to customers, GM said, according to Reuters.