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.
