Buick recalls Regal vehicles over loss of brake assist

Warren, MI – July 17, 2022 – General Motors (NYSE:GM), which owns the Buick brand, has issued a recall for 23,734 Regal sedans because of a potential loss of brake assist.

The recall covers the 2018–2020 Buick Regal mid-size cars.  

Recall summary

The brake assist function helps in stopping the car faster during emergency braking. This is achieved through a pump that boosts the brakes’ stopping power by removing all the air inside the booster, creating a vacuum. The pump is regulated by the electronic brake control module, or EBCM.  

In the affected vehicles, a software error may lead to the EBCM failing to engage the brake booster function.

If there is no assist, the vehicle may take a longer distance to stop, depending on the force exerted by the driver on the brake pedal.

The component involved in this recall is the electronic brake control module software, with multiple part numbers including 39135331, 39187211, 39187212 and 39215669.    

Recall risks

Read more about the risks of this defect in our recent article about a similar brake recall issued by Toyota. 

Warning signs 

When the vacuum-brake assist has failed to engage, a message will appear on the dashboard. This will be accompanied by a malfunction warning light, and drivers may observe that the brake pedal becomes harder to press.  

Other Buick recalls 

As part of recent Buick Regal recalls, the 2010-2013 model years were among those included in a recall issued in January over suspension issues. The rear suspension toe links used in the affected vehicles could break due to the supplier’s excessive use of protective coating, which could fail to shield the part against corrosion. This could lead to the toe links wearing down and breaking, causing the rear wheels to wobble. 

The repair

Dealers will reflash the EBCM software used in the affected vehicles. There will be no charge for this service. General Motors will reimburse owners who paid to have the problem fixed prior to the recall order.   

Affected owners will be notified by August 15, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 23,000 vehicles are included in this Buick Regal brake recall. To see if your vehicle is affected, run a Buick recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.  

Joseph EstabilloBuick recalls Regal vehicles over loss of brake assist

General Motors issues third recall for Buick and Chevrolet due to suspension issues

Warren, MI – January 15, 2022 – General Motors (NYSE:GM), that owns both Chevrolet and Buick brands, is recalling 4,271 sedans in 23 states whose rear suspensions may break, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. This is an expansion of two previous recalls conducted by the manufacturer. Vehicles that are part of this recall include:

  • 2010 – 2013 Buick Lacrosse
  • 2010 – 2013 Buick Regal
  • 2013 Chevrolet Malibu

Recall summary  

All recalled vehicles have an identical rear suspension assembly. A part of that assembly is a toe link, which holds the wheels straight. In affected vehicles, this component was coated with insufficient anti-corrosion protection. As a result, this link may corrode and subsequently fracture due to exposure to road salt

This recall only affects vehicles that were sold or registered in the so-called “Salt Belt” states, which regularly use salt on the roads to de-ice them

The component in question is the “Rear Suspension Toe Link” with part numbers 13219171 and 22924230, built by Shanghai Huizhong Automotive Manufacturing.

Recall risks

For risks of this recall, please visit this article about a previous recall for the same issue conducted in August 2020.

Background of the recall

This recall is an expansion of two previous recalls that were conducted in December 2020 and August of 2021. It is occurring because, during the course of its investigation conducted leading up to the last recall, GM discovered that the defective links were installed in a wider population of vehicles than previously thought.

Other General Motors recalls 

Cadillac, Chevrolet and Yukon SUVs were subject to an October recall due to the risk of stalling while driving.

The last 2012 Buick Lacrosse recall was conducted in 2014 because of the driver seat that may unexpectedly drop, upping the risk of a crash.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will replace the suspected toe links and realign the rear suspension. Notifications about this replacement will be sent to vehicle owners on February 7, 2022. All repairs will be done free-of-charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This GM Toe Link recall is affecting more than 4,000 Chevrolet and Buick sedans. To do a GM recall check and see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicGeneral Motors issues third recall for Buick and Chevrolet due to suspension issues

General Motors recalls over 33,000 cars over risk of flat tires

Warren, MI – March 11, 2021 – General Motors  (NYSE:GM) has recalled 33,838 vehicles whose tires may rupture out on the road. The recall includes the following models:

  • 2020 Buick Enclave
  • 2020 Cadillac Escalade
  • 2020 Cadillac Escalade ESV
  • 2020 Cadillac XT4
  • 2020 Cadillac XT5
  • 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer
  • 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express
  • 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  • 2020 Chevrolet Suburban
  • 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe
  • 2020 Chevrolet Traverse
  • 2019-2020 GMC Acadia
  • 2018-2021 GMC Savana
  • 2019-2020 GMC Sierra 1500
  • 2020 GMC Yukon
  • 2020 GMC Yukon XL

Recall summary  

Before being placed in service, tires are “cured,” or given final shape, using a mold and a rubber “bladder.” The tires in question were accidentally cured for longer than necessary, making them prone to rupture and failure.

While the tires are being recalled by GM, they are part of a larger problem with Continental brand tires. This recall expands an earlier GM recall in November 2020 and includes more models that may be equipped with defective tires.

In its turn, Mercedes-Benz has also just announced that it would inspect over 2,500 cars due to the same issue. To read about warning signs that may indicate that the tires are defective, please see the recent article we wrote about that recall.

Risks

The defective tires may suddenly go flat. Additionally, the outer tread – which is the part that touches the road –  could separate from the rest of the tire. Both conditions could cause the driver to lose control of the car and crash.

The repair

GM dealers will inspect and, if necessary,  replace vehicles’ tires for free. Notifications with more information will be sent to owners around April 12.

Recent Chevrolet recalls, GMC recalls

GM recalled nearly 6 million vehicles equipped with potentially dangerous Takata airbags in February. The airbags’ inflators may break apart after a crash and kill or injure the occupants of the car with sharp metal fragments.

The recall spanned several GM brands, including Chevrolet and GMC. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 33,000 vehicles are included in this GM recall. To see if your [type of vehicle] is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandGeneral Motors recalls over 33,000 cars over risk of flat tires

General Motors vehicles recalled for potential fuel leaks

Warren, MI– December 10, 2020 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has recalled 194,105 vehicles due to missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator end cap. The missing bolts may result in a transmission oil leak, a loss of vehicle power or an engine fire. This General Motors (GM) recall includes:

  • 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze sedans
  • 2018-2019 Buick LaCrosse sedans
  • 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox SUVs
  • 2018-2020 Chevrolet Traverse SUVs
  • 2018-2020 GMC Terrain SUVs
  • 2018 Chevrolet Malibu sedans
  • 2019-2020 Buick Encore SUVs
  • 2019-2020 Buick Enclave SUVs
  • 2019-2020 Cadillac XT4 SUVs
  • 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer SUVs
  • 2019-2020 GMC Acadia SUVs
  • 2020 Cadillac XT6 sedans

Recall summary  

Your vehicle’s transmission is designed to transfer engine power to the driveshaft. The start-stop accumulator shuts down the engine when it is not in use to achieve better fuel economy and cut down on emissions.

Each start-stop transmission accumulator is attached using four bolts. In the case of the recalled vehicles, due to a supplier software error, two of the required bolts are missing

Risks 

Missing bolts can create a number of issues:

  • Transmission oil leak: A leak may damage other engine parts, and driving the vehicle without the proper amount of oil or transmission fluid may damage the engine.
  • Loss of vehicle power: A loss of power may prevent the driver from accelerating into a busy road or onto a highway, increasing the risk of an accident. A power loss may also reduce the driver’s ability to speed up to avoid an accident. Finally, the vehicle may slow down on its own until it comes to a complete stop, increasing the risk of being struck by another vehicle coming up from behind.
  • Increased risk of fire: A fire can injure the vehicle occupants, or cause the driver to lose control and cause an accident. This article explains what you should do if you believe your vehicle is on fire.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will need to check the start-stop accumulator end cap and determine if any bolts are missing. If they are, the dealer will replace the end cap at no cost to the owner. GM expects the recall to begin on December 14, 2020.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This GM oil leak recall includes over 194,000 vehicles. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ken BoydGeneral Motors vehicles recalled for potential fuel leaks