DETROIT — General Motors Co. is recalling more than 1.5 million cars and trucks sold globally because of a glitch in the windshield wiper fluid system that could ignite a fire, the latest in a growing number of high-profile safety recalls for the U.S. auto industry, reported The Wall Street Journal.

GM is unable to repair the system, because the supplier that makes the system is no longer in business, and instead will remove the heated fluid feature and compensate vehicle owners with $100.

"While our analysis shows the number of incidents is very small compared with the number of vehicles on the road, we want our customers to have complete peace of mind," Jeff Boyer, GM executive director of safety, said in a statement.

GM's recall involves 2006 through 2009 model-year vehicles including Buick Enclave, Cadillac CTS and several Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks and SUVs.

GM attempted to fix the problem in a 2008 recall, but has since received reports of "thermal incidents" on repaired vehicles, according to a filing with the NHTSA.

The company reported five known fires, but no injuries or crashes.

Around 1.4 million of the affected vehicles are in the U.S.; more than 100,000 are in Canada, Mexico and elsewhere.