GM recalls vehicles with defective safety equipment

GM recalls vehicles with defective safety equipment

May 15, 2018 Sean Reyes , ,
Warren, Mich. – General Motors has recalled almost 13,000 vehicles potentially equipped with defective safety equipment, according to documentation submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects multiple models across three GM brands, including:
  • 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express passenger vans produced between Sept. 9, 2008, and March 23, 2018.
  • 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty pickup trucks produced between Oct. 13, 2008, and Nov. 6, 2013.
  • 2009 GMC 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series pickup trucks produced between Aug. 20, 2008, and July 31, 2009.
  • 2009-2018 GMC Savana passenger vans produced between Sept. 12, 2008, and March 10, 2018.
  • 2009 Isuzu F Series diesel commercial trucks produced between Aug. 20, 2008, and Dec. 19, 2008.
GM suspects all of the vehicles involved in the action contain the defective components.

The Defect

Affected vehicles come with portal fire extinguishers that clog easily may become inoperable in the event of an engine fire. Additionally, individuals who attempt to unclog them by force may sustain injury due to nozzle detachment. As a result, these components pose a serious hazard to occupants. However, GM has yet to receive field reports linking these fixtures to any accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

Personnel from the Isuzu Technical Center of America on Nov. 4, 2017, learned that fire extinguisher supplier Kidde had recalled a large number of defective products, according to an internal chronology document given to the NHTSA. Isuzu quickly reviewed its production records and found that many vehicles, including some Chevrolet trucks, included these components. On Nov. 14, the brand issued a voluntary recall. Three days later, GM began reviewing historic production records dating back decades to see if other past models had been equipped with the defective extinguishers, some of which could have been used in vehicles assembled in the 1990s and early 2000s.
The automaker conducted this review over the course of nearly three months, evaluating production documents dating from 1992 to the present.
By January 2018, GM had identified approximately 100 different fire extinguisher models used across several brands. Engineers managed to trim this number to 13 – all of which Kidde manufactured – by March. Members of the GM Open Investigation Review assessed this data and transferred the case to the Safety and Field Action Decision Authority, which chose to conduct a voluntary safety recall April 19. GM notified dealers of the forthcoming action April 26.

The Solution

GM intends to notify owners via first-class mail when replacement parts are available, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgement document. By this point, owners will need to contact Kidde directly to receive replacement extinguishers free of charge.
Owners in need of additional assistance prior to or after the start of the recall can contact GM customer personnel at (800) 462-8782. Callers should use the internal recall identification number 18146. Owners can also reach out to the NHTSA directly using the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Sean ReyesGM recalls vehicles with defective safety equipment
GM recalls vehicles with defective fuel sensors

GM recalls vehicles with defective fuel sensors

November 21, 2017 MotorSafety.org ,

Warren, Mich. – Nov. 21, 2017 – General Motors has recalled more than 35,000 vehicles potentially equipped with defective fuel tank sensors, according to documentation submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2011-2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 and GMC Sierra 3500 pickup trucks produced between May 24, 2010 and Sept. 30, 2015. GM believes all of the vehicles named in the recall contain the defective parts.

The Defect

Affected models include dual fuel tank assemblies. The first of these tanks includes a defective fuel-level sensor that sometimes stalls in the lowest position, offering an inaccurate reading and increasing the likelihood of overfilling and tank expansion. This, in turn, could then allow the tank to come into contact with the moving driveshaft, creating a hole and causing fuel leakage. As a result, the defect poses a serious threat to occupants. However, GM has received no reports linking the defective component to any accidents or injuries thus far.

Timeline of Events

In April 2017, the NHTSA notified GM about a vehicle owner questionnaire it had received that detailed an instance of fuel leakage in a 2015 GMC Silverado 3500 pickup. One month later, the GM engineers familiar with the VOQ submitted a report via the company’s Speak Up For Safety program. The automaker launched an internal investigation in response to the submission on May 16.

Over the course of May, June and July, engineers evaluated field data to pinpoint the root cause of the leakage, which apparently initiated in the front fuel tank. On July 27, GM met with the NHTSA to review the results of the three-month inquiry. The two parties came to the conclusion that the fuel leaks were not developing in vehicles manufactured after 2015. In August, GM completed a design failure mode and affect analysis, and determined that the problem was confined to Chevrolet Silverado 3500 and GMC Sierra 3500 trucks equipped with dual fuel tanks. These vehicles were manufactured without beds and other conventional pickup features, as they were intended for commercial use or modification.

GM personnel reviewed the matter in two separate sessions on Aug. 28 and Sept. 25. The NHTSA revaluated the defect on Oct. 2 as well. The GM Safety and Field Action Decision Authority looked over the issue Oct. 12 and decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall. GM notified dealers Oct. 19.

The Solution

GM has directed dealers to inspect the front fuel tanks in the affected models and either replace the rear tank fuel pumps or updated the fuel sensor software, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgement document. These fixes, which will be ready for implementation in early 2018, are to be executed free of charge. The automaker plans send an initial notification to owners via first-class mail Dec. 18 and follow-up document in February 2018, when the remedy is ready for implementation. Owners in need of more immediate assistance can contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020 or GMC customer service at (800) 462-8782. Callers should use the GM recall identification number 17399.

Owners can also contact the NHTSA directly using the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 3274236.

MotorSafety.orgGM recalls vehicles with defective fuel sensors
GM recalls vehicles with defective air bags

GM recalls vehicles with defective air bags

November 9, 2017 Nate Gouldsbrough ,

Warren, Mich. – Nov. 9, 2017 – General Motors has recalled more than one-dozen vehicles potentially equipped with defective air bag assemblies, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects multiple models across two brands, including:

  • 2015-2016 Chevrolet Colorado pickup tucks produced between Oct. 10, 2014 and Feb. 6, 2016.
  • 2016 Chevrolet Volt electric sedans produced between Oct. 16 and Dec. 14, 2015.
  • 2015-2016 GMC Canyon pickup trucks produced between Oct. 13, 2014 and Aug. 2, 2015.

GM suspects that all of the vehicles referenced in this recall contain the defect components.

The Defect

Affected vehicles include driver-side front air bag assemblies with second-stage inflators that may malfunction upon deployment, thus failing to completely fill the corresponding air bags or do so within the regulated time span. This poses a serious risk to drivers involved in collisions, as they are less protected and therefore more likely to sustain injuries upon impact. However, GM has yet to receive reports connecting the defective air bag assemblies to any injuries or accidents.

Timeline of Events

In March 2016, GM recalled more than 1,500 vehicles after its air bag supplier, Key Safety Systems, discovered that some of its shipped frontal air bag assemblies failed to meet cold-weather fill-time requirements, according to an NHTSA Safety Recall Report. Specifically, these fixtures came equipped with second-stage inflators without the chemical mixture required to effectively facilitate deployment and fill frontal air bags as much or as quickly as required by law.

In the months following the March 2016 recall, KSS evaluated its inflators to determine whether mistakes were made during assembly or problems developed due to long-term vehicle use. During this analysis, the parts provider discovered another batch of defective filters that had been shipped to GM and installed in vehicles not referenced in the March 2016 action. KSS notified GM of the issue May 4, 2017. Approximately six days later, the automaker opened an internal investigation to better understand the problem.

Over the next four months, GM and KSS worked together to analyze the filters received during the March 2016 recall. This data allowed KSS to improve the accuracy of its existing strategy for detecting incorrectly assembled inflators, which involved the evaluation of component weight. The parts provider used this methodology to find defective inflators installed in non-recalled GM vehicles.

With this new information in hand, the GM Safety and Field Action Decision Authority elected to issue a voluntary safety recall Sept. 28. The car manufacturer notified dealers Oct. 5.

The Solution

GM has directed dealers to replace the driver-side frontal air bag assemblies in affected models free of charge, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgment document. The automaker plans to notify owners via first-class mail Dec. 4. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020 or GMC customer service at (800) 462-8782. Callers should use the internal GM recall identification number 17387. Owners can also reach out the NHTSA directly using its toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Nate GouldsbroughGM recalls vehicles with defective air bags

GM recalls trucks with defective EPS software [Video]

September 1, 2017 admin , ,

Hello, and welcome to another recall update.

General Motors has recalled more than 800,000 trucks believed to contain defective electronic power steering software, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra light-duty trucks.

The vehicles named in the recall could come equipped with EPS software that suddenly switches off during low-voltage conditions, resulting in the loss of power steering functionality. Investigators for GM looked into the issue between February and May, and eventually linked the problem to faulty coding. in June. the automaker launched an official recall, which has since been amended and expanded.

GM has ordered update the EPS software in affected vehicles, free of charge. However, the company has not yet released a timetable for owner notification. Stay tuned for more breaking recall news.

adminGM recalls trucks with defective EPS software [Video]
GM recalls SUVs with defective drive shafts

GM recalls SUVs with defective drive shafts

September 1, 2017 Sean Reyes , ,

Recall Masters -August 31, 2017

GM recalls SUVs with defective drive shafts

General Motors has recalled a number of sport utility vehicles believed to be equipped with defective drive shafts, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017-2018 GMC Arcadia, 2018 GMC Terrain and 2018 Chevrolet Equinox models. The automaker estimates that 3 percent of the vehicles have problematic drive shafts.
The Defect
Models referenced in the recall could contain front right intermediate drive shaft assemblies prone to fracture and separation. Engineers have traced the issue to the parts manufacturer Nexteer, which failed to use properly calibrated ultrasonic scanning equipment when performing quality checks.
The defect poses a serious safety hazard to occupants, as vehicles with damaged drive shafts may lose power during operation or roll away when stopped without the parking brake engaged. However, GM has yet to receive reports of accidents or injuries connected to the defect…

Read the entire article on the Recall Masters website

Sean ReyesGM recalls SUVs with defective drive shafts
GM recalls SUVs with defective drive shafts

GM recalls SUVs with defective drive shafts

August 31, 2017 admin ,

 

Warren, Mich. – Aug. 31, 2017 – General Motors has recalled a number of sport utility vehicles believed to be equipped with defective drive shafts, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017-2018 GMC Arcadia, 2018 GMC Terrain and 2018 Chevrolet Equinox models. The automaker estimates that 3 percent of the vehicles have problematic drive shafts.

The Defect

Models referenced in the recall could contain front right intermediate drive shaft assemblies prone to fracture and separation. Engineers have traced the issue to the parts manufacturer Nexteer, which failed to use properly calibrated ultrasonic scanning equipment when performing quality checks.

The defect poses a serious safety hazard to occupants, as vehicles with damaged drive shafts may lose power during operation or roll away when stopped without the parking brake engaged. However, GM has yet to receive reports of accidents or injuries connected to the defect.

Timeline of Events

On July 20, 2017, engineers at the GM assembly facility in San Luis Petosi, Mexico, came across a newly manufactured GMC Terrain sport utility vehicle with a separated right intermediate drive shaft. Quality assurance reviewed the part and confirmed, via Nexteer records, that it had passed end-of-line inspection before being shipped to the assembly site. From July 21-27, engineers at the plant discovered three additional fractured drive shafts, all of which had also passed the final quality check at Nexteer. On July 28, officials at the San Luis Petosi plant filed a report via GM’s “Speak Up for Safety” program.

Nexteer analyzed its records and discovered that drive shaft assemblies produced between June 13 and July 21 were scanned with improperly calibrated ultrasonic scanning equipment. The parts provider confirmed that drive shafts from this batch had been shipped to four separate GM plants, including the San Luis Petosi facility. GM then initiated quarantine programs at these sites. On Aug. 1, Nexteer delivered properly calibrated ultrasonic scanners to the GM assembly facilities, where all vehicle drive shafts were scanned.

GM opened an investigation into the matter Aug. 4., and concluded the inquiry Aug. 14. On Aug. 15, the GM Safety Field Action Decision Authority called for a voluntary safety recall. The car manufacturer notified dealers Aug. 22.

The Solution

GM has asked dealers to replace the front right intermediate drive shafts in affected vehicles free of charge, according to a document submitted to the NHTSA. The company has yet to release a timetable for notifying owners. However, those in need of immediate assistance can call Chevrolet and GMC customer service representatives at (800) 222-1020 and (800) 462-8782. They can also call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

adminGM recalls SUVs with defective drive shafts
GM recalls trucks with faulty EPS software

GM recalls trucks with faulty EPS software

August 15, 2017 admin ,

 

Warren, Mich. – Aug. 15, 2017 – General Motors has recalled nearly 700,000 vehicles suspected of containing faulty electronic power steering software, according to documents filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2014 Chevrolet Silverado LD pickup trucks manufactured between Jan. 30, 2013 and Sept. 4, 2014, as well as 2014 GMC Sierra LD pickups with production dates ranging from Jan. 29, 2013 to Sept. 4, 2014. GM estimates that 2 percent of the vehicles named in the recall contain the defective EPS software.

The Defect

Vehicles referenced in the recall could potentially contain EPS software prone to sudden shutoff during low-voltage maneuvers such as low-speed turns. The software normally fails within a one-second span, when system voltage measurements drop below 8.8 volts. With the EPS disabled, operators have difficulty navigating the vehicle. This poses a serious safety risk to owners, passengers and other drivers. However, GM has yet to receive any field reports connecting the defective software to any accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

On Feb. 2, 2017 GM opened an internal investigation into EPS software installed in some vehicles after receiving multiple customer complaints and vehicle owner’s questionnaires mentioning momentary loss of EPS function. Throughout February and April, the automaker reviewed the collected customer complaints, warranty claims and VOQs to determine if the vehicles referenced in these reports shared similar mechanical features. GM did indeed find technical links between the models and launched an extended field investigation to gather more data, eventually discovering that faulty software was the root cause of the EPS failures.

Over the course of April and May, GM engineers conducted internal tests at the company’s testing facility in Milford, Michigan in an effort to recreate the and evaluate the EPS problem. The automaker was able to gain a deeper understanding of the defective software and its impact on driveability. Engineers discovered that the EPS software stalled in particularly low-voltage situations and required at least 9 volts of electricity to maintain proper operations.

In June, the GM Open Investigation Review re-evaluated the original reports collected in February. On June 22, the car company’s Safety Field Action Decision Authority announced that an official safety recall was necessary. GM notified dealers of the campaign Aug. 7, according to internal documentation submitted to the NHTSA.

The Solution

The automaker has ordered dealers to update the EPS software in affected models with a new iteration released May 19. The repairs are to be administered free of charge. GM plans to notify owners via first-class mail beginning Aug. 15. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact GM customer service at (800) 462-8782 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

adminGM recalls trucks with faulty EPS software
GM Recalls Vehicles with Faulty Seat Belts

GM Recalls Vehicles with Faulty Seat Belts

July 10, 2017 admin , , ,

Warren, Mich. – July 10, 2017 – General Motors has recalled more than 40,000 vehicles possibly equipped with dysfunctional software, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The campaign affects over one dozen models across multiple brands, including:

  • 2014 – 2017 Buick Encore sport utility vehicles
  • 2014 – 2016 Buck Lacrosse sedans
  • 2015 – 2016 Cadillac Escalade sport utility vehicles
  • 2015 – 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV sport utility vehicles
  • 2014 – 2016 Chevrolet Caprice Police Pursuit sedans
  • 2014 – 2017 Chevrolet Corvette sports cars
  • 2014 – 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickups
  • 2015 – 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 pickups
  • 2015 – 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 pickups
  • 2014 – 2016 Chevrolet Spark compacts
  • 2014 – 2016 Chevrolet SS sports sedans
  • 2015 – 2016 Chevrolet Suburban sport utility vehicle
  • 2015 – 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe sport utility vehicle
  • 2015 – 2016 Chevrolet Trax sport utility vehicle
  • 2014 – 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 pickups
  • 2015 – 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 pickups
  • 2015 – 2017 GMC Sierra 3500 pickups
  • 2015 – 2016 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL sport utility vehicles

GM suspects 75 percent of the vehicles named in the recall contain the outdated software.

The defect

Affected vehicles contain sensing and diagnostic module software that may not properly deploy front air bags and seat belt pre-tensioning features in the event of an accident.

This poses serious safety risks to drivers and passengers, as they may be left unprotected during collisions. However, the car company has not reports connecting the defective software to accidents or injuries as yet.

Timeline of events

In September of last year, GM recalled more than 3 million vehicles believed to contain problematic SDM software, according to the NHTSA. Approximately 100 percent of the cars involved in the campaign contained the defect.

GM ordered dealers to update the software in all recalled vehicles free of charge, a process that began that very month. Roughly 2.9 million were eventually serviced.

In April 2017, GM personnel conducted an internal audit, reviewing recall and repair records for recent campaigns.

Auditors discovered three instances in which dealers had failed to update the SDM software on vehicles involved in the September 2016 yet reported that the repairs had been successfully executed.

These findings prompted the auditors to evaluate additional repair records and OnStar diagnostic data for approximately 30,000 vehicles named in the aforementioned campaign.

This data indicated that many more models connected to the campaign, an estimated 41,000, might have never received the SDM software update. On May 18, the auditors filed an internal report via the GM Speak Up program.

The GM Safety Field Action Decision Authority chose to conduct an official safety recall June 30. Dealers received notification July 10.

The solution

GM has once again ordered dealers to update the SDM software in affected models. The automaker has pledged to reimburse owners for the repair, according to documents submitted to the NHTSA.

However, GM has not publicized an official notification date for owners.

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

adminGM Recalls Vehicles with Faulty Seat Belts
GM recalls Chevrolet SS vehicles

GM recalls Chevrolet SS vehicles

June 26, 2017 admin

 

Warren, Mich.—June 26, 2017—A new Chevrolet recall pertains to thousands of vehicles with a potential power steering issue. According to an acknowledgment statement filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers in certain Chevrolet SS models could suddenly lose electric power steering assistance while the vehicle is in motion. The specific models involved cover the years from 2014 to 2016 for the Chevrolet SS, though the recall itself comes from General Motors.

The Defect

The statement said that a power steering connector could suffer conductivity issues through fretting corrosion, possibly cutting off assistance altogether. This could in turn activate a warning light and noise to alert the driver, even though it might still technically be possible to drive the car. Estimates indicate approximately 95 percent of the 6,204 vehicles may have this issue. The affected components themselves are from Mando Corporation.

Timeline of Events

  • May 14, 2013: This was the earliest production date listed in the same NHTSA statement, applying specifically to the 2013 Chevrolet SS vehicles in the recall.
  • April 27, 2016: The production period for the 2016 vehicles involved in this recall ended on this day, making it the last of all of the included vehicles overall. The report did not list how many vehicles of each model year were included.
  • July 26, 2016: The gold-plated terminals, which were listed as part of the solution to the issue, were introduced on this date. However, the manufacturer reportedly didn’t discover this until it had begun its investigation the following year.
  • September 28, 2016: A related chronology document, also filed with the NHTSA, said that this date was when a report on steering warranty data brought the matter to GM’s attention.
  • March 23, 2017: The manufacturer began its official investigation on this day, with the actual recall decision coming on June 9.

The Resolution

The original statement listed the dealer notification date as June 15, with no date listed for owner notification at that time. The replacements will involve the previously introduced gold-plated terminals to fix the assembly, if such a repair is needed.

adminGM recalls Chevrolet SS vehicles
Headrest Standards Concerns Lead to Chevrolet Recalls

Headrest Standards Concerns Lead to Chevrolet Recalls

March 2, 2017 admin

Detroit — Mar. 02, 2017 — Some Chevrolet Cruze vehicles reportedly have issues with the recliners that could leave the vehicle noncompliant with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Because of this, General Motors Co. targeted 17,197 possibly affected vehicles in the U.S. as part of a recently announced recall action.

The Defect

GM Authority recently reported on the decision. According to the source, the recall would center around improperly secured head restraints. Chevrolet Cruze vehicles from either the 2016 or 2017 model years are part of GM’s concerns. {if they’re just part which vehicles are the rest of GM’s concerns?}

During a crash, the headrests could potentially separate. This not only would put the drivers in possible danger, but would also go against FMVSS 202a the standard that deals with head restraints and comes with height and placement demands.

Timeline of Events

  • July 19-20, 2016: According to an official chronology from GM, the company’s suppliers discovered a welding issue with the affected car brackets on the 19th, and then took measures to improve it the following day, though GM did not learn of this until later.
  • Sept. 16-21, 2016: Three warranty claims for vehicles reportedly containing this defect come to GM’s attention.
  • Nov. 2, 2016: The manufacturer discovered and reported the bracket issue affecting the seat backs.
  • Nov. 21, 2016: GM learned about the supplier actions, among other things, after reaching out to them. 
  • Jan. 9, 2017: The company reviewed the case through its Open Investigation Review board.
  • Jan 19, 2017: After examining relevant computer simulations two days earlier, the company’s Safety and Field Action Decision Authority made the noncompliance recall official.

The Resolution

As a repair document released through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said, the fix procedure will take two separate operations: an initial inspection and a follow-up installation, if necessary, to replace the seat back frame.

adminHeadrest Standards Concerns Lead to Chevrolet Recalls
Recall Lookup
Enter your vehicle(s) below to check the current recall status.

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories