Chevrolet Recalls | Page 5 | MotorSafety.org

Excess glue caused problems in GM trucks

January 6, 2020 Sean Reyes Chevrolet Recalls, GMC Recalls

Laguna Hills, CA – Dec. 20, 2019 – General Motors LLC is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks. The B+ battery positive cable rings may have an excess of glue, increasing the likelihood of an intermittent electrical connection

The potential number of vehicles affected is estimated at 350,371.

The Defect

While driving the vehicle, the glue may soften so that the nut that attaches the battery cable to the alternator loosens, causing an intermittent electrical connection. A bad connection could cause the vehicle stall and also cause arcing, which could generate enough heat to start a fire. The defect was caused by an excess of glue that should have been removed from around the B+ battery cable rings during the supplier’s assembly process. The excess glue resulted in glue contamination.

Timeline of Events

General Motors’ Canadian Brand Quality Manage found a case where a 2019 GMC Sierra stalled because it was missing the nut that secures the B+ cable to the alternator stud. On August 20, 2019, the Brand Quality Manager submitted a report to General Motors’ Speak Up For Safety (SUFS) program. GM opened an investigation on September 10, 2019. The investigation found warranty reports of related field incidents. Between September and November, GM experts analyzed parts to determine the cause of the defect and conducted a torque-curve study. Field data analysis was completed November 25, 2019, finding one case of a related fire.

On December 5, 2019, General Motors’ Safety and Field Action Decision Authority decided to conduct a safety recall.

The Solution

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified and told to take their vehicles to a certified General Motors dealer for repairs, free of charge. Dealers will use a black light to inspect for glue and other contaminants at the B+ cable attachment alternator. Dealers may clean the connection and then reattach the B+ cable connection. If any damage has occurred to the alternator, cable or nut will replace the damaged parts. Secondary black light inspection has been implemented in production to catch the defect moving forward. Secondary inspections began November 14, 2019 at General Motors’ Fort Wayne plant and November 22, 2019 at their Silao plant.

Dealers will be notified of the recall beginning on December 12, 2019, while owners will be notified on January 27, 2020.

For more information on this or other recalls past or present, visit motorsafety.org.

General Motors trucks recalled for a software error

Laguna Hills, CA – Dec. 20, 2019 – General Motors LLC is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Cadillac CT6, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM) may have a software error that could disable the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Antilock Brake System (ABS).

The potential number of vehicles affected is estimated at 463,995.

The Defect

The affected vehicles have a software defect in the EBCM that will disable the ESC and ABS for a single ignition cycle. In situations where the ABS and ESC are disabled, the vehicle diagnostic’s telltale lamps won’t light up, leaving the driver unaware of the problem. Driving without knowledge of a defective ABS or ESC may increase the risk of a crash. In addition, the lack of warning of a defect puts the vehicles out of compliance with S5.3 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 126 and S5.1 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 135.

According to General Motors, an estimated one percent of the total vehicles for each model are affected.

Timeline of Events

On November 15, 2019, General Motors’ EBCM supplier, ZF TRW, informed the company that they had found a software error while investigating a related product. On December 5, 2019, General Motors’ Safety and Field Decision Authority decided to call for a noncompliance recall.

The Solution

General Motors will provide dealers with a list of affected vehicles through GM GlobalConnect Recall Reports. General Motors dealers are expected to reflash all affected EBCMs, updating the software and correcting the problem. Moving forward, the software error has been corrected for the 2020 model year.

Because all affected vehicles are the current model and under warranty, General Motors will not have to provide reimbursements. Owners can check to see if their vehicle is being recalled by searching their VIN number at www.vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/. In some cases, courtesy transportation may be provided to affected drivers. Dealers will be notified of the recall December 12, 2019. GM will begin notifying individual owners January 27, 2020.

For more information on this or other recalls past or present, visit MotorSafety.org.

GM Recalls Pickup Trucks Due to Seat Belt Fire Fears

November 22, 2019 Sean Reyes Chevrolet Recalls, GMC Recalls

Laguna Hills, CA – Nov. 21, 2019 – Well over a half-million pickup trucks manufactured by General Motors LLC are poised to be pulled from the marketplace over safety concerns related to the front seat belt pretensioners. When passengers strap themselves in, a hot gas may emit from pretensioner bracket opening. This could cause a fire within the interior of the vehicle. The potentially compromised models in question include the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.

Although GM has yet to announce when motorists will be officially notified of this safety issue by mail, the automaker intends to send mailers alerting registered owners shortly. Recipients are urged to have their cars examined by an area dealership so this problem can be resolved, if one exists. The repair comes at no charge.

The Defect

According to documents submitted to and distributed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, GM is recalling approximately 556,399 pickup trucks nationwide whose seat belt pretensioners – both on the driver and passenger side of the car – may be compromised. Upon the belt’s deployment from the assembly, a flammable gas may emanate out of the bracket aperture. Such a scenario may lead to a fire. All the suspect vehicles have carpet floor mats, which are not fire retardant. Those with vinyl floor coverings are not in any danger.

The specific automobiles included in the GM seat belt fire recall are the following:

2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
2019-2020 GMC Sierra 1500
2020 GMC Sierra 2500
2020 GMC Sierra 3500

Chevrolet Silverados represent the lion’s share of the GM seat belt fire recall at 355,878, based upon NHTSA records and estimates.

Timeline of Events

This issue first came to GM’s attention July 25, when corporate headquarters was briefed about a fire occurring within the cab of a GM-manufactured pickup truck. Internal fire investigators participated in the inquiry as well and determined approximately five days later that the problem may be linked to a similar event that involved the same make and model.

GM and the internal fire experts referred the case to GM’s technical center for follow-up analysis and a more in-depth breakdown as to the nature and cause of the conflagration and how best to resolve it. This subsequent investigation took place in September.

In mid-October, those leading the inquiry determined the most likely cause was a hot gas that vented from the pretensioner opening, which subsequently ignited carpet fibers found on the floor. These findings were then submitted to GM open investigation review board Nov. 4. Three days later, the automaker decided a safety recall was appropriate. No known crashes, deaths or injuries have been reported as a result of this seat belt glitch.

The Solution

While General Motors dealers have since been notified about this safety alert, motorists soon will be, according to the automaker’s records. There’s no official date as of yet, but GM expects mailers being distributed sent out in the first or second week of December. Those informed are asked to bring their automobile to a local dealer. If deemed necessary after inspecting the suspect seat belt unit, the pretensioner aperture will be closed off, thus stopping the gas’s outflow.

For more information on the GM seat belt fire recall or additional recalls recently announced by the Detroit, Michigan-based automaker, please visit MotorSafety.org.

GM Recalls Numerous Vehicles Due to Electronic Stability Control Malfunction

November 1, 2019 Sean Reyes Chevrolet Recalls, GMC Recalls

December 16, 2021 Update – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has remedied issues with 524,144 models dealing with a software error that can cause unintended braking. Additionally, 2,577 models including the 2020 Tahoe and the 2020 Yukon have been categorized as unreachable, and 26 models have been removed from the recall. These models were remedied in 3 different years, the first group in 2019, four groups in 2020, and two more were fixed in 2021 by these incorrect calibrations in the EBCM which has also presented other software errors in many other GM models.

Laguna Hills, CA. – November 1, 2019 – General Motors recently informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of a recall involving five different vehicle models including the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, all of which share the same defect.

Affected vehicles include:

2015 – 2020 Chevrolet Suburban
2015 – 2020 Tahoe
2015 -2020 Yukon
2014 – 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive

The defect

According to the official report regarding this issue filed by GM with the NHTSA, the vehicles involved in the recall contain a defect caused by incorrect axle-ratio calibrations in the vehicles’ electronic-brake control module (EBCM).

The flaw can cause the module to incorrectly calculate the speed of a wheel that has a faulted wheel-speed sensor. In specific operating conditions and vehicles, this can trigger the vehicle’s driveline protection system at an inopportune time.

“If a wheel speed sensor fails in these vehicles, a software error in the vehicle’s EBCM can cause the vehicle’s driveline protection system to activate when (i) the vehicle’s electronic transfer case is set to four-wheel drive or automatic mode, and (ii) the vehicle is driven between the speeds of 41 and 60 MPH,” stated GM’s report on the matter.

“If the [system] activates, the driver will experience unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, which can be considered as one of the many failures that increase the risk of collision in different brands and models.”

Timeline of events

The first report involving the recall arrived May 21, when a GM dealer submitted a warranty report to the manufacturer involving a 2018 GMC Yukon whose owner reported that, while driving between 40 and 45 MPH, the brakes were involuntarily applied and caused the vehicle to pull leftward.

A test of the vehicle confirmed the report, and further investigations revealed all the vehicles which might contain the defect.

“GM and ZF (the EBCM supplier) isolated the condition to certain K2 platform vehicles equipped with 5.3-liter engines, four-wheel drive, and 3.08-ratio rear axles, and to specific operating conditions,”

the chronology report provided by GM explained.

The decision to conduct the recall was made official on Oct. 17.

The solution

Owners of vehicles involved in the recall will be notified sometime in the near future, although the exact schedule has yet to be set. Authorized dealers will reprogram the EBCM for affected automobiles on behalf of GM, free of charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 650,000 vehicles are included in this GM recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

GM Expands Prior Recall on Chevrolet Trax Vehicles

September 23, 2019 Sean Reyes Chevrolet Recalls

Laguna Hills, CA – September 23, 2019 – In April of this year, General Motors announced a recall on certain 2017 – 2019 Chevrolet Trax vehicles, due to the possibility that a joint in one or both of the front lower-control arms had been welded in an improper position.

GM recently decided to expand the scope of that recall, as a result of further investigations, so that it now applies to include other Chevrolet Trax vehicles that were built in the period between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2017.

At the request of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, GM is handling the recall as a new field action. However, in practical terms, it counts as a “population extension”— the defect remains the same as the one listed in the prior recall, with no significant differences.

The defect

The defect is now known to exist in certain 2015 – 2018 model year Chevrolet Trax vehicles. GM estimates that 93,639 such vehicles have the potential to contain the defect, and that roughly 50 percent among that number do indeed contain it.

“In some of these vehicles, a joint in one or both front lower-control arms may have been improperly welded,” state details in documents filed by GM with the NHTSA.

“Over time and in rare cases, an improperly welded joint can fatigue and break, causing the lower-control arm to partially separate from the vehicle”.

If the lower-control arm does separate from the vehicle, then the front wheel attached to the arm will toe outward, adversely affecting steering and increasing the possibility of a crash.

According to the GM documents, the defect was caused because “the component surfacer that is welded to the bushing housing did not conform to applicable design specifications, and as a consequence, was not properly welded to the bushing housing.”

The manufacturer is not yet aware of any vehicle crashes that are attributable to the defect, but notes that if the lower-control arm were to partially separate, the driver may hear a loud noise, and feel the tire begin to rub against the wheel well.

Timeline of events

The initial recall, which applied to certain 2017 – 2019 model year Chevrolet Trax vehicles, was announced in April 2019. At the time of that recall, GM was not aware of any claims relating to the defect in question within vehicles built prior to July 2017.

However, in September 2019, GM’s Safety and Field Action Decision Authority reviewed an analysis of field claims generated following the April recall, which found instances of the defect (some confirmed and some unconfirmed) in vehicles built as early as July 2015.

Based on that data, the decision was made to create a new recall that applies to a larger range of Chevrolet Trax vehicles.

The solution

The repair for the defect is currently available, and will be done at no cost to the customer. Customers who own a vehicle potentially containing the defect will be notified by mail by GM. Dealers will inspect the left and right front lower-control arms, and, if necessary, replace them free of charge.

GM notes that they corrected the potential for the defect by implementing new actions at their supplier in April 2019, such as amending the specifications for the welding, and introducing standardized inspections before and after the weld operation.

To find out if your vehicle is part of this recall, MotorSafety.org’s free look-up tool.

Issues with Engine Control Modules Leads GM to Announce Malibu Recall

September 19, 2019 Sean Reyes Chevrolet Recalls

Warren, MI – September 21, 2022 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has remedied issues with 152,605 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles that were dealing with fuel injectors issues caused by problems on the 1.5L turbo engines. Additionally, 1,019 of these GM vehicles have been categorized as unreachable, and 34 have been removed from the recall. One group of these 2018 Chevrolet Malibu was remedied in 2019, four groups in 2020, and another group was remedied in 2021 due to these issues where the ECM may disable the fuel injectors.

Warren, MI – September 19, 2019 – Complications with 1.5L turbo engines have caused the fuel injectors on some 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles to become disabled, leading the car manufacturer to announce a recall for that particular make and model.

Because of the issues, the car engine may be prevented from starting, or drivers could experience stalls, therefore increasing the possibility of collision.

Unfortunately, the updated software designed to fix the defect has not yet been completed—but once it is available, dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) on affected vehicles to prevent the error from occurring.

The defect

According to documents filed by General Motors, the defect applying to the 1.5L turbo engines could potentially affect more than 175,000 vehicles, with the manufacturer estimating that roughly 1 percent of those automobiles contain the defect.

“Under certain conditions, an error in the vehicles’ ECM software can cause data used by the ECM to become corrupted,” stated the description of the defect in GM’s safety recall paperwork, “When this occurs, the ECM may send a signal disabling the engine’s fuel injectors.

If the fuel injectors are disabled, the engine may not start and, in rare cases, the engine may stall after it is started.” This means the vehicle may stall at speed, which would significantly increase the possibility of collision.

However, other makes and models of the Malibu should not contain the defect, as they run off different ECM software.

Finally, to aid drivers in taking necessary precautions, GM has advised that vehicles with this defect may see their check-engine light illuminate if the error arises.

Timeline of events

GM informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the vehicle recall in a letter dated September 10, 2019.

According to that letter and other documents regarding the defect, GM first became aware of the error in May 2019, when it came to the company’s attention as a result of higher-than-usual warranty rates for ECM replacements in 2018 Malibu vehicles.

The warranty claims illustrated to GM the risks associated with the defect —that engines may fail to start in the first place, or, more dangerously, may stall while the vehicle is moving at speed.

In collaboration with the supplier of the ECMs, Continental Automotive Systems, the manufacturer discovered notable differences between the software used in 2018 and 2019 models of the vehicle, and soon afterwards discovered a defect in the 2018 software which has the potential to disable the engine’s fuel injectors.

The solution

The software update that corrects the ECM issue will be done by dealers at no charge to owners of the automobile. However, that software update is not yet complete, meaning the recall notices will have to wait until the fix is completely prepared.

The bulletin will only be posted once the software update has been completed, at which point drivers who own the vehicle will be able to bring it to their local dealership for the aforementioned fix.

Also, vehicle owners directly affected by the recall will be notified by mail. Dealers themselves were notified of the problem in early September, and more information is sure to follow in the coming weeks and months.

To find out if your vehicle is part of this recall, use MotorSafety.org’s free look-up tool.

General Motors Recalls Various Vehicles Due to Vacuum Pump

September 17, 2019 Sean Reyes Cadillac Recalls, Chevrolet Recalls, GMC Recalls

December 2, 2021 Update – GM has remedied 2,588,566 vehicles with the issue of vacuum pump issues in the 2018 GMC Yukon among others. GM has deemed 21,474 vehicles including the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado unreachable with an additional 207 vehicles being removed from the vacuum pump recall.

Laguna Hills, CA – September 17, 2019 – The possibility that vacuum pumps in various General Motors vehicles may vary in performance has caused the company to conduct a recall of General Motors vehicles due to vacuum pump issues.

According to the “Frequently Asked Questions” document provided by the manufacturer, General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in the following vehicles:

2014 – 2018 Cadillac Escalade
2014 – 2018 Chevrolet Silverado
2014 – 2018 Chevrolet Suburban
2014 – 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe
2014 – 2018 GMC Sierra
2014 – 2018 GMC Yukon

The defect

Within the GM vehicles that contain the mechanical vacuum pump defect, the engine-mounted output may decrease over time, diminishing the power brake assist and therefore increasing the distance required to stop the vehicle.

Ultimately, this leads to a greater chance of an accident and adds to other risks that Chevrolet vehicles have presented during collision events.

According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of vehicles that potentially contain the defect is greater than 3,450,000, with GM estimating that 2 percent of the autos in that total are almost certainly affected by this issue.

The following vehicles make up the group possibly saddled with the vacuum pump problem:

Cadillac Escalade 2015 – 2017
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 2014 – 2018
Chevrolet Suburban 2015 – 2018
Chevrolet Tahoe 2015 – 2018
GMC Sierra 1500 2014 – 2018
GMC Yukon 2015 – 2018

There are certain symptoms that drivers may experience if their car is among those affected by the vacuum pump defect. For instance, they may feel a vibration in the brake pedal or experience a change in the amount of pressure required to depress the brake.

Other possible signs of the problem include a ticking noise coming from within the engine compartment and unintentional activation of the secondary hydraulic brake assist system, according to GM.

Finally, the manufacturer noted that if the vacuum level drops to a level below 10 kPA, a “Service Brake Assist” message will appear in the Driver Information Center within five minutes.

GM has determined that while the defect may potentially increase the possibility of collision, all of these vehicles are otherwise safe to drive before undergoing repair of the vacuum pump.

Timeline of events

According to a chronology provided by GM, the NHTSA opened a preliminary investigation into the subject in November 2018, at which point the manufacturer also began an internal investigation of the same issue.

In December, after reviewing the results of both investigations, GM’s Safety & Field Action Decision Authority decided to extend the warranty on vacuum pumps for all the vehicles listed above.

Then, in July 2019, GM received results of the additional investigation into the subject by the NHTSA, which prompted yet another internal inquiry on the part of the manufacturer.

This final study concluded on August 29, 2019, when GM decided to conduct an official recall on the automobiles to provide them with new software calibration.

Dealers were notified of the recall in early September 2019, with GM planning to send direct notifications to affected drivers in the near future.

The solution

Vehicles that contain the defect can be brought to a local dealership, where the dealer will reprogram the electronic brake control module with a new calibration that corrects the problem, should the vacuum assist become depleted.

As with the potentially dangerous Takata airbag issue reported in early 2021, drivers with a vehicle involved in the recall will be notified by mail. There will be no cost to vehicle owners for repair or repair. Check your car’s recall status using MotorSafety’s free vehicle recall lookup tool.

Glass Mix–Up Prompts Recall of GM Vans

June 7, 2019 Sean Reyes Chevrolet Recalls, GMC Recalls

Laguna Hills, CA – June 7, 2019 – Over a thousand Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles with model years 2016 to 2019 produced by General Motors LLC, are due to be recalled as a result of the possible wrong installation of tempered glass in the automobiles’ rear windows.

The vans were meant to be installed with laminated glass, which tend to be more resistant to shattering, but instead feature tempered glass. In the event of a serious accident – such as a rollover – the tendency of tempered glass to explode increases the risk of injury.

GM intends to send out advisories to owners of these vehicles, urging them to take the automobiles to their nearest GM dealer for a free repair. It’s unclear as of yet when those notifications will begin.

The defect

According to documentation filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, General Motors is recalling an estimated 1,159 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans, whose model years range between 2016 and 2019.

An internal investigation determined that some of these automobiles may have been installed with tempered glass, described as such because they’re reinforced with heat to strengthen their resilience.

While tempered glass has more safety properties than standard glass, laminated glass – the type the vehicles are meant to have – has an extra layer of vinyl, which enables the glass to hold its shape more effectively in the event of a crash.

This also helps prevent the potential of ejection from the vehicle should motorists not have their seat belts on during an accident.

Because the vehicles in question do not comply with Number 226 of the government’s Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, which relates to ejection mitigation, GM has decided to pull the 1,150+ vans from the marketplace so that tempered glass can be swapped out with laminated where necessary.

Timeline of events

The flaw in question came to the attention of General Motors March 18 of this year, when an engineer for the company happened to notice that both a Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana had rear-quarter windows installed with tempered glass instead of the correct laminated type.

The engineer made the company aware of the flaw through its Speak Up For Safety, which was formally launched in 2014 and serves as a “see something say something” outlet for GM employees when something is amiss.

A formal investigation was launched roughly a week after the engineer first spotted the flaw, and concluded May 13.

GM’s Field Action Decision Authority determined that, as a result of the findings, some of the cars in question may indeed fail to comply with the ejection mitigation rule established by NHTSA and recommended a recall.

The solution

Although GM has not yet determined when notifications will be distributed, it intends to inform owners of 2016 – 2019 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana to bring their automobiles back to any GM dealer so the proper glass can be installed. The fix will come at no charge to owners.

To find out if your vehicle is part of this recall, use MotorSafety.org’s free look-up tool.

The recall number is N192218960.

GM Recalls 2017 – 2019 Chevrolet Trax Vehicles for Steering Issues

April 26, 2019 Sean Reyes Chevrolet Recalls

Laguna Hills, CA – April 26, 2019 – General Motors is recalling certain 2017 – 2019 Chevrolet Trax vehicles. Improper welding of a joint in one or both of the front lower-control arms may result in the detachment of the arm from the vehicle.

This could potentially cause the front wheel to toe outward, impacting the vehicle’s steering and handling and leading to a greater chance of crash. As many as 112,958 vehicles may be affected.

The defect

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report on this problem, an improperly welded joint in one or both of the front lower-control arms could fatigue and break, resulting in the vehicle’s lower control arm partially separating from the vehicle.

If this were to happen, the front wheel attached to the control arm would toe outward, adversely affecting the vehicle’s steering and potentially causing the tire to rub against the wheel well, increasing the risk of a crash.

Timeline of events

A GM dealer filed a field product report November 14, 2018 concerning a left front-control arm that partially separated from a 2018 Chevrolet Trax.

Based on a visual inspection of photos of the failed control arm, GM found that the weld connecting the arm to the bushing did not match design specifications. I

In response, GM’s supplier originally stated that the welds on the failed component part and other control arms produced at its facility conformed to design specs.

Following a formal product investigation on January 31, 2019, GM’s supplier confirmed on February 28 that the welds on the failed part did not comply with the applicable design specifications.

The welds were improperly modified because the lower-control arm stampings failed not match specs.

From March through April, the automaker worked with its supplier to identify affected vehicles that may have been manufactured with the defective part and to assess the condition’s impact on vehicle performance.

GM engineers at the Milford Proving Grounds conducted drivability testing April 12 on a Chevrolet Trax vehicle with a front lower-control arm that was cut at the affected weld.

GM’s Safety and Field Action Decision Authority consequently decided April 15 to conduct a safety recall. As of that date, only two warranty claims relating to this condition had been reported for cars sold in the U.S., with no evidence of any crashes.

The solution

GM has not yet provided a notification schedule for the recall. The automaker will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left and right front lower-control arms, replacing them as necessary, free of charge.

The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 19V312000.

To find out if your vehicle is part of this recall, use MotorSafety.org’s free look-up tool.

GM Recalls 2016 – 2018 Cadillac CTS and ATS, Chevy Camaro and Corvette for Power Steering Issue

March 28, 2019 Sean Reyes Cadillac Recalls, Chevrolet Recalls

Laguna Hills, CA – March 28, 2019 – General Motors is recalling certain 2016 – 2018 Cadillac CTS and 2017 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles because the power steering assist system may fail, increasing the risk of a crash. As many as 26,772 vehicles may be affected.

The defect

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report on this problem, the affected vehicles may experience a loss of electric power steering assist while driving. This would demand more effort in steering, especially at lower speeds, with a potentially greater risk of a crash.

Timeline of events

GM launched an investigation September 18, 2018 into loss of power steering assist in the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro.

Between September 19 and late October, GM’s safety investigator, with help from engineering experts, analyzed vehicle owner questionnaires, customer complaints, legal claims, and warranty data to assess the number of cases in the field and to identify common root causes.

An intermittent electrical loss within the torque-sensor printed circuit board was found in about 80 percent of the cases reviewed. The same issue was found in two Corvette steering gear assemblies. GM then expanded its investigation, discovering that the Cadillac CTS and ATS were also at risk.

Between November and mid-December, field analysis revealed spikes in warranty rates between June and September 2016, and a three-day window in February 2017.

Between mid-December and late January 2019, GM worked with its supplier to identify the problematic circuit boards and VIN numbers of affected vehicles.

Following an open investigation review, GM’s Safety Field Action Decision Authority decided January 31 to conduct a safety recall.

The solution

The recall will begin March 2019. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. GM’s number for this recall is N182182760.

Check your car’s recall status using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

The Defect

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The Solution

The Defect

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The Defect

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Is your vehicle part of this recall?

The defect

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The defect

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The defect

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The defect

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The defect

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