GM recalls cars because of blinding headlights

Warren, MI January 1, 2023 – General Motors (NYSE:GM), which owns Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands, is recalling 740,108 cars, SUVs, and trucks, whose daytime running lights may not deactivate when the headlights are on.  This may blind other motorists, increasing the chances of a crash and injury.  

This recall expands a previous recall conducted for the same reason late last year.

The lengthy list of affected vehicles includes: 

  • 2021 – 2023 Buick Envision
  • 2020 – 2023 Cadillac CT4
  • 2020 – 2023 Cadillac CT5
  • 2022 – 2023 Cadillac Escalade 
  • 2022 – 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV
  • 2022 – 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  • 2022 – 2023 Chevrolet Suburban 
  • 2022 – 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe 
  • 2022 – 2023 GMC Sierra 1500
  • 2022 – 2023 GMC Yukon 
  • 2022 – 2023 GMC Yukon XL

Recall summary  

Daytime running lights are a part of a headlight cluster that, as their name would suggest, increases a vehicle’s visibility during the day. These lights, however, shut off as soon as the headlights are turned off. If not, they may create a glare, which could be blinding to other motorists.

Due to a software error, the DRL lights on affected vehicles may fail to disengage once the headlights are turned on

The component causing this recall is the body control module, with part numbers differing depending on the make and model. Some of them include 13534824, 13534861 or 13542151. 

Background of the recall

The 2021 model-years of some of the cars above were recalled in November of last year due to the same issue. Before that recall was announced, GM started an investigation to determine if additional vehicles were affected. As a result of that investigation, the current recall came into life.

Recall risks

Risks caused by blinding headlights were covered in detail in the previous GM recall.  

Other GM recalls

Just a month ago, GM recalled more than 300,000 SUVs over a similar issue, which was also one of the latest Chevrolet Tahoe recalls.

Back in September 2022, GM recalled nearly 100,000 compact SUVs because their rearview cameras could have failed to show an image when backing up

The repair

Dealers will install a software update to affected vehicles. The repair is free of charge. 

Vehicle owners will be notified on January 23, 2023. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This GM daytime running lights recall affects almost three-quarters of a million vehicles. To do a GM recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicGM recalls cars because of blinding headlights

General Motors recalls Cadillac XT4 crossovers  over rearview camera failure

Warren, MI – December 9, 2022 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) which owns the Cadillac brand, has issued a recall for 10,194 2019–2020 Cadillac XT4 subcompact crossovers due to a problem with the rearview camera. This increases the risk of an accident.  

Recall summary

The rearview camera allows drivers to maneuver better by displaying the view of the area behind the vehicle once the Reverse gear is engaged. In the affected vehicles, which are those equipped with the optional Cadillac Surround Vision feature, the rearview camera may work erratically or stop working at all, resulting in no image being shown after the driver shifts to Reverse.

Recall risks

For risks of this recall, please read our recent coverage of an Audi recall for the same issue.

Warning signs 

Drivers may notice the rearview camera working inconsistently or not working at all, indicated by a black or blue screen on the dashboard monitor.   

Other General Motors recalls

In September, GM recalled 2020-2021 Cadillac XT5 and XT6 vehicles (as well as GMC Acadias for the same model year) over a similar problem with the rearview camera image failing to display on the monitor.

General Motors issued a recall for 681,509 2014–2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain models in April 2022 over a problem with the windshield wipers malfunctioning because of rust on the ball joints.

There are no other prominent or recent Cadillac XT4 recalls at this time.

The repair

To fix these Cadillac rearview camera issues, dealers will update the video processing module (VPM) software on the affected vehicles. For 2019 models, the VPM will also be replaced. All repairs will be done free of charge.

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified on or around January 9, 2023.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 10,000 vehicles are affected by this Cadillac rearview camera recall. To see if your vehicle is among them, or to check for 2023 Cadillac and General Motors recalls, run a General Motors recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloGeneral Motors recalls Cadillac XT4 crossovers  over rearview camera failure

General Motors recalls SUVs over faulty daytime running lights

Warren, MI – November 23, 2022 – General Motors (NYSE:GM), which owns the GMC, Chevrolet and Cadillac brands, is recalling 338,735 SUVs over defective GM daytime running lights. These lights may not turn off even after the headlamps are engaged, potentially blinding oncoming motorists and increasing the risk of an accident.

This recall covers the following models:

  • 2021 Cadillac Escalade
  • 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV
  • 2021 Chevrolet Suburban
  • 2021 Cadillac Tahoe
  • 2021 GMC Yukon
  • 2021 GMC Yukon XL

Recall summary

Daytime running lights, or DRLs, are secondary exterior lights designed to make the vehicle more visible during daytime conditions. These give off a bright white light using light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, and are designed to turn off when the headlamps are engaged.

In the affected vehicles, the DRLs remain turned on even when the headlamps are activated.

The component involved in this recall is the body control module, with part numbers 13546033 and 13546036.

Recall risks

The issue could result in glare that could temporarily blind oncoming drivers, augmenting the risk of a crash.

Other General Motors recalls

In April, General Motors issued a recall for 681,509 vehicles, including 2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and 2014-2015 GMC Terrain SUVs, over windshield wipers that could fail to clear obstructions on the windshield that are blocking the driver’s view, as reported.

In September, General Motors recalled 95,231 vehicles, including the 2020-2021 Cadillac XT5,  2020-2021 Cadillac XT6 and 2020-2021 GMC Acadia, over faulty rearview cameras, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will update the body control module software free of charge.

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified on or around December 19, 2022.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 338,000 GMC, Cadillac and Chevrolet models are affected by this daytime running lamp issue. To check for Cadillac Escalade recalls, Chevrolet recalls and more,  run a GM recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloGeneral Motors recalls SUVs over faulty daytime running lights

General Motors recalls vehicles with defective rearview cameras

Warren, MI – September 30, 2022 – General Motors (NYSE:GM), which owns the Cadillac and GMC brands, is recalling 95,231 vehicles over faulty rearview camera systems. Malfunctioning rearview cameras can compromise the driver’s ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up, increasing the risk of a crash.

The recall comes on the back of a U.S government investigation and covers the following models:   

  • 2020 – 2021 Cadillac XT5
  • 2020 – 2021 Cadillac XT6
  • 2020 – 2021 GMC Acadia

Recall summary

The recall affects vehicles with the optional Surround Vision feature. In these vehicles,  the cable that transmits images from the rearview camera to the touchscreen monitor on the dashboard may have loose connections, so the signal from the camera may be interrupted. This could result in no image being displayed on the dashboard monitor when the driver shifts to Reverse.

The component involved in this recall is the coaxial video cable with part numbers 84966435, 84704472 and 84704495. 

Recall risks

A missing or intermittent rearview camera image will reduce the driver’s ability to see behind the vehicle. This increases the risk of a crash, injury or property damage when the vehicle is backing up. There has been at least one crash associated with the defect.

Background of the recall

This recall is a result of an investigation by the U.S. government auto safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The investigation was opened in July on the heels of 12 complaints of black screens, “sometimes with a red triangle and a circle with a line through it.” The cars involved had low mileage readings.

Warning signs

Users may notice that the rearview camera is either not consistently displaying images or has lost the image signal altogether, leading to a black screen on the dashboard.

Other General Motors recalls 

In January 2022, General Motors issued a recall for 4,271 sedans, including the Buick Lacrosse, Buick Regal and Chevrolet Malibu. This was over a problem with the rear suspension resulting from corrosion.   

In October 2021, there was a Cadillac recall over a defective fuel pump control module. This could cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of the vehicle being hit in traffic.  The recall also included 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and 2021 GMC Yukon vehicles.

Repair

Dealers will replace the coaxial cables on the affected vehicles as necessary. There will be no cost to owners for this repair.

 Affected owners will be notified on or around November 7, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 95,000 GM vehicles are affected by this GM rearview camera recall. To see if your vehicle is included, run a GM recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloGeneral Motors recalls vehicles with defective rearview cameras

GM recalls SUVs with faulty seat belts

August 21, 2022 – General Motors (NYSE:GM), which owns the Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC brands, is recalling 484,155 SUVs seat belts that may not protect the occupant in the event of a crash. This increases the risk of an injury.  

Vehicles affected by this recall include: 

  • 2021 – 2022 Cadillac Escalade 
  • 2021 – 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV
  • 2021 – 2022 Chevrolet Suburban  
  • 2021 – 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe 
  • 2021 – 2022 GMC Yukon
  • 2021 – 2022 GMC Yukon XL

Recall summary  

Affected vehicles have a third row of seats with seat belts that are held in place by metal fasteners called rivets which are part of the belt buckle.

Due to a supplier error, these rivets were not formed correctly during manufacturing and could break during a crash. 

Recall risks

The occupant may get ejected from the car and get seriously hurt in a crash.

Other GM recalls

Among previous Chevrolet Tahoe recalls the one from October 2021 caused by stalling issues is the most recent

There was a small GMC Yukon recall in January of this year due to “a loss of drive power,” according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) records. Both recalls included other vehicles.

Among other GM recalls there was one for Terrain SUVs due to a blinding-headlights’ issue in March, as reported.

The repair

Dealers will inspect how the seat belt is secured and replace the buckle if needed. The repair is free of charge. 

Vehicle owners will be notified on September 26, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This GM seat belt recall is affecting almost half a million SUVs. To do a GM or Chevrolet recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicGM recalls SUVs with faulty seat belts

General Motors recalls new SUVs over stalling issue

Warren, MI – October 17, 2021 –General Motors (NYSE:GM) has recalled 14,901 SUVs that may stall due to a fuel pump issue. Stalling on the road can result in a crash, increasing the risk of injury for the occupants of the car and their fellow motorists. The recall includes the following models:

  • 2021 Cadillac Escalade
  • 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV
  • 2021 Chevrolet Suburban
  • 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe
  • 2021 GMC Yukon
  • 2021 GMC Yukon XL

The faulty component that caused this recall is the “Fuel Pump Power Control Module,” part #13537053. 

Recall summary  

The recalled Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Suburban, Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs contain a faulty fuel pump power control module. The module is a small computer that delivers power to run the car’s fuel pump, which in turn, delivers fuel to the engine. 

The defective control module may fail, causing the fuel pump to shut down which may starve the engine of gasoline and stall the car. GM blamed the defect on the supplier, Vitesco, but did not provide a specific cause for the fault. 

The recall is based on 617 related complaints and 229 reports of stalls drawn from warranty claim data. GM said it was not aware of any injuries related to this issue to date. 

Recall risks

Stalling out on the road puts the car at risk of being hit by faster-moving traffic. Read more about the risks of stalling and what to do if your car stalls in this article about a recent Chrysler recall.

Warning signs

Drivers may notice a few different “symptoms” if this problem is occurring:

  1. The check engine light may illuminate.
  2. The engine is running rough.
  3. The vehicle may enter into a “reduced power” mode, causing sluggish acceleration.

Other related recalls

General Motors recalled the same Escalade, Suburban, Tahoe, and Yukon vehicle models over a recent power steering failure that affected 26,847 SUVs. 

In June, there was a Cadillac Escalade recall because of faulty airbag warning lights, as reported. The recall also included Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban and Yukon vehicles. 

There was a Chevrolet Tahoe recall in March because of the risk of flat tires.

There have been many Chevy recalls, including one in October 2019 for unintended braking.

The repair

GM dealers will replace the power control module on the recalled Chevy Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade SUVs for free. All owners will be officially notified about the recall starting November 8, but the repair is already available. Customers are eligible for courtesy transportation if they are concerned about driving their cars.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 14,000 vehicles are included in this Chevy, Cadillac and GMC recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandGeneral Motors recalls new SUVs over stalling issue

GM recalls Cadillacs for twisted airbags

Warren, MI – September 10, 2021 – General Motors  (NYSE:GM) has recalled 34,157 Cadillac CT sedans that whose roof rail airbags (also called side-curtain airbags) may fail to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. The recall includes:

  • 2020 – 2022 Cadillac CT4 sedans
  • 2020 – 2022 Cadillac CT5 sedans

Recall summary  

These Cadillacs are built with roof rail airbags, which  deploy like “curtains” over the windows to protect vehicle occupants’ heads during a crash. The airbags are stored compactly folded along the sides of the car’s roof. However, the recalled vehicles’ airbags may actually be twisted, meaning that they may not deploy properly in a crash.

The problem was first discovered over a year ago when a roof rail airbag failed to properly deploy during crash testing conducted by a government safety agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The affected part is the roof rail side airbag with multiple part numbers, including 84929315 and 84929316.

Risks

Side and curtain airbags reduce side-impact crash fatalities by an estimated 31.3%, according to NHTSA. If these airbags do not properly deploy in a crash, this safety benefit is stripped away.

Cadillac recalls

Over the summer, GM recalled close to 400,000 Cadillac and Saab vehicles due to faulty suspension. Rear toe links – which is what keeps tires on the ground and the car stable – on these vehicles were misadjusted leading to some of the recalled vehicles veering uncontrollably off the road. 

The repair

Dealers will inspect both left- and right-side roof rail airbags to see if they are twisted and will untwist them if necessary. This service will be free of charge. Courtesy transportation is available for Cadillac CT owners. Customers will be notified about the recall starting September 20, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 34,000 vehicles are included in this GM airbag recall. To see if your Cadillac is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandGM recalls Cadillacs for twisted airbags

GM issues second recall for Cadillac and Saab vehicles over faulty suspension

Warren, MI – August 16, 2021 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has remedied issues with 171.766 vehicles including the 2011-2012 Saab 9-4x and the 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX that were dealing with rear suspension issues. Additionally, 88 of these GM vehicles have been categorized as unreachable, and 31 have been removed from the recall. One group of these 2011-2012 Saab 9-4x and the 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX was remedied in 2021, and another group was remedied in 2022 due to these issues with the rear suspension toe link may loosen and separate.

Warren, MI – August 16, 2021 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has issued a recall for 380,498 cars to fix a part of the rear suspension – which connects the vehicle to the wheels – that may come loose and result in a loss of control. The affected vehicles include:

  • 2010 Cadillac SRX
  • 2011 Cadillac SRX
  • 2012 Cadillac SRX
  • 2013 Cadillac SRX
  • 2014 Cadillac SRX
  • 2015 Cadillac SRX
  • 2016 Cadillac SRX
  • 2011 Saab 9-4X
  • 2012 Saab 9-4X

This recall is a result of an investigation by an auto safety regulator the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration on the back of consumer complaints. A large number of these vehicles were first recalled in September 2014 over the same concern.  

The affected component is the “adjustable rear suspension toe link” with part number 20867273.

Recall summary

The affected vehicles are equipped with rear toe links that may have been adjusted improperly during a service. A toe link keeps the suspension stable and the tires on the ground, as reported.

After the 2014 recall, the company continued to receive additional reports that the toe links were still loose and the NHTSA opened an investigation in 2020, after getting nine complaints from owners. 

As a result, GM has recalled all of the vehicles that were part of the original recall, as well as some additional model years.

Risks

A loose toe link may cause the vehicle to veer uncontrollably. An affected vehicle may start swerving from side to side, increasing the risk of colliding with other vehicles and oncoming traffic. This is very dangerous. In fact, the NHTSA cited that two of the nine complaints it received resulted in a crash.

Warning signs

GM has mentioned that a driver will notice one of these warning signs if the toe link on their vehicle is loose:

  • Traction control, rear axle or Stabilitrak service message
  • Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) stays on or flashes 
  • Chimes with any of the above messages and MILs
  • Vehicle sways or veers while driving
  • Off-center steering wheel
  • Uneven wear between the rear tires
  • Loud metallic noise from the rear suspension

In the event that you notice any of these signs, slow down and bring your vehicle to a halt. Have your vehicle towed immediately to a GM dealership; do not drive it there.

Related complaints

There have been several complaints from owners about losing control while driving. One 2015 Cadillac SRX driver reported a harrowing experience where she and her husband were driving down the highway, heard a loud bang and then completely lost control of the vehicle. The car crossed three lanes of the interstate, hit the side of a tractor trailer, which pushed them back across three lanes and then came to a stop in the left lane. Fortunately, they came out of the incident unharmed.

Other GM recalls

Earlier this month, GM issued a Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac recall for multiple models over a faulty airbag warning light. All models were part of the 2021 model year.

The repair

GM dealerships will replace the affected adjustable toe link with a non-adjustable unit, free of charge. This will prevent the toe links from coming loose or breaking in the future.

Customers were notified on August 9, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

A loose toe link can have serious consequences. To find out if your vehicle is a part of this GM recall, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalGM issues second recall for Cadillac and Saab vehicles over faulty suspension

General Motors recalls multiple SUVs over power steering failure

Warren, MI – August 3, 2021 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has issued a recall for 26,847 SUVs over a potential loss in power steering assist, which could increase steering effort and result in a crash. This GM recall includes:

  • 2021 Cadillac Escalade
  • 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV
  • 2021 Chevrolet Suburban
  • 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe
  • 2021 GMC Yukon
  • 2021 GMC Yukon XL

The affected part is the power steering motor control module with multiple part numbers – 84893520, 84876238, 84846488.

Recall summary

The power steering assist makes it easier to steer a vehicle. A software issue in the power steering control module may result in the loss of the feature, increasing the effort needed to steer and the risk of a crash. 

An affected vehicle will still have manual steering control. 

Warning signs

Drivers will be warned of a loss in power steering functionality by a malfunction indicator light (MIL) on the dashboard and with a chime sound.  More effort will also be required to steer but the issue may be remedied if the car is restarted.

Risks

Losing the power steering can make maneuvering quite difficult, particularly with larger vehicles, like the ones that are a part of this recall. The effort required is greater at slower speeds and increases the risk of the driver losing control and crashing.

Related complaints

Back in May, a 2021 GMC Yukon owner experienced a similar loss in power steering functionality.  

Other GM recalls

Another recent Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac recall was for a failing airbag malfunction warning light.

The repair

The software issue can be resolved with an over-the-air (OTA) update without having to bring the vehicle to a dealership. The owner can also schedule to have the dealer perform the update. Some vehicles will require a new steering gear motor kit in order to download the software update, in which case the car will have to visit the dealer. In all cases the repair will be free of charge. Affected customers were set to be notified on August 2, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

To find out if your vehicle is a part of this GM recall, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalGeneral Motors recalls multiple SUVs over power steering failure

GM recalls multiple models for faulty airbag warning light

Warren, MI – July 1, 2021 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has issued a recall for 285,622 cars and SUVs over a concern that the airbag malfunction indicator may fail to warn the driver if there is a problem with the airbag, increasing the risk of an injury in a crash. The models that are part of the recall are:

  • 2021 Buick Envision
  • 2021 Cadillac CT4
  • 2021 Cadillac CT5
  • 2021 Cadillac Escalade
  • 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV
  • 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe
  • 2021 Chevrolet Corvette 
  • 2021 Chevrolet Suburban
  • 2021 GMC Yukon
  • 2021 GMC Yukon XL

The affected part is the Serial Data Gateway Module (SDM) – a gateway that handles the multiple networks in a vehicle – with part number 13542878. It is not clear if the 2021 Corvette Stingray is part of this recall.

Recall summary

The root of the problem is with the GM SDM Programming; specifically, a software issue that causes the airbag sensor to inconsistently illuminate the airbag malfunction indicator light. As a result, the driver may think his or her airbag is working properly when it is not and this could result in inadequate protection in the event of a collision.

Risks

An airbag is meant to protect the occupant from an upper-body injury and frontal airbags have saved over 50,000 lives in the last 30 years. An airbag that does not deploy in the event of a crash can result in serious injury or even death.

Related complaints

In April 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation over reports concerning airbag malfunctions in General Motor vehicles. Some of the models that are part of this recall were also investigated.

Of 15 complaints submitted to the NHTSA, six mentioned serious crashes where the airbags failed to deploy. Some also mentioned that the warning lights came on “every two to three minutes when driving.”

GM has not commented on whether this recall is a consequence of the investigation.

Other GM recalls

Back in December 2020, General Motors was ordered to recall 5.9 million cars with Takata airbags that may rupture when deployed.  

Other Chevrolet and Buick recalls in the recent past include the January 2021 recall for mid-size sedans over a potential suspension issue.

The repair

The software issue can be resolved with an over-the-air (OTA) update at a dealership. Affected customers will be notified on July 19, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

To find out if your vehicle is a part of this GM recall, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalGM recalls multiple models for faulty airbag warning light