Responding to pressure from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), General Motors is recalling nearly 3.5 million pickups and SUVs to fix a manufacturing defect in the vehicles’ brake system.
The recall includes model years 2014 through 2018 GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks and the Chevrolet Silverado. The other vehicles included in the recall are the 2015 to 2017 Cadillac Escalade, and the Chevy Suburban, Chevy Tahoe, and the GMC Yukon 2015 through 2018 model years.
Faulty Brakes Increase Risk of Crash
The recall stems from a flaw with the brake system. The issue is with the pump in the power-assisted brakes. As the pump ages, it can produce less vacuum power than is necessary; therefore, making it harder for the driver to depress the brakes.
If the brake system suddenly fails, drivers will need more distance to stop and this can lead to a crash. To date, the brake problem has been associated with 113 accidents and 13 injuries, however, no fatalities have been reported.
According to Consumer Reports, the NHTSA launched an investigation in November of 2018 after receiving 111 complaints. In a statement, GM said that drivers may notice some irregularities immediately before their brakes start having issues.
Before the brakes malfunction, the brake pedal may vibrate or the driver may suddenly need to exert more pressure on the brake to get the vehicle to stop. The driver may hear a ticking noise that comes from the engine compartment, or the driver may notice a “Service Brake Assist” message on the dashboard.
GM is offering to fix the vehicles covered in the recall. People can bring their SUVs and pickups back to the dealership, which will reprogram the braking software free of charge.
On the GM recall, William Wallace, Consumer Reports’ Manger of Safety Policy said, “It shouldn’t take 113 crashes and 13 injuries for a recall to happen. All auto companies – and especially GM, given its history with faulty ignition switches, should fix defects earlier.”
Have you been injured by a defective vehicle, such as the ones mentioned in the GM recall? To file a claim for compensation, contact Jones & Swanson today.
Categories: Automobile Defects, Product Recall, Recalls
