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4.7 million vehicles recalled! See if yours is on the list
There’s another major car recall and this one could put lives in danger. The recall affects 3.5 million General Motors SUVs and pickup trucks.
GM is recalling the vehicles because the brakes may suddenly begin to falter. The defect already has caused crashes and injuries.
We have the details on this major recall, as well as two others that cause safety issues. We’ll also tell you how to find if your vehicle is affected and how to get the problems fixed.
Brake system failures
Following a 10-month long investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), GM is recalling 3.5 million vehicles. The recall includes such popular models as the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks, the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Suburban and Cadillac Escalade SUVs.
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The recall is related to the software that operates the vehicles’ powered brake-assist system. The system is designed to reduce the amount of pressure a driver needs to use on their brakes in order to slow down or stop.
In the recalled vehicles, however, the brake-assist system can fail, forcing drivers to push down harder on their brakes. It also takes more distance for the vehicles to stop, which could lead to crashes.
GM says they are aware that the brake failure has led to 113 crashes and 13 injuries. No deaths have been reported.
The recall affects the following models:
- 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado trucks
- 2014-2018 GMC Sierra trucks
- 2015-2017 Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs
- 2015-2018 GMC Yukon SUVs
- 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban SUVs
- 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade SUVs
Although the U.S. recall was just announced, GM has been repairing affected vehicles since December 2018, a month after NHTSA started its investigation. GM issued a recall in Canada this past June.
Fixing the problem requires dealers to update software in the vehicles. Owners will not be charged for the service.
For more information, consumers can call Chevrolet at 800-630-2438, Cadillac at 800-458-8006, or GMC at 800-462-8782.
GM involved in second vehicle recall
GM is also recalling more than 177,000 2018 Chevrolet Malibu sedans. NHTSA says the recall is due to a software error that can disable the engine fuel injectors.
If the engine fuel injectors are disabled the affected vehicles will not start or worse, they can stall while in motion. The check engine light will also turn on. There have been no reports of crashes or injuries.
The software failure affects Malibus built from April 25, 2017, through Sept. 20, 2018. GM has yet to find a solution to the software problem. Until then, drivers of affected vehicles can get loaner cars if their affected vehicle is still under warranty.
Related: SUVs recalled over bad software
Once a remedy to the problem is found, GM will update the software at no cost. For more information on the recall, call GM customer service at 800-630-2438.
This is no tailgate party
In yet another recall, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is expanding its recall of Ram pickup trucks bringing the total number of recalled trucks to more than 1 million.
The recall is due to concerns that the tailgate could open unexpectedly while the pickup is in motion and cargo could spill onto the road causing a dangerous hazard to other drivers. The problem is due to a flaw in the trucks’ tailgate power-locking mechanism.
A piece in the assembly can fracture and release the latches, allowing the tailgate to fall open. The recall affects:
- All 2013-2014 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks
- 2015-2017 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickup trucks with a 5-foot, 7-inch bed; 6-foot, 4-inch bed; or 8-foot bed and power-locking tailgates
- All 2018 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 trucks built before April 1, 2018
The first recall covered more than 400,000 Ram pickup trucks. The expansion has added 693,128 trucks to the recall.
To fix the problem, dealerships will open the tailgate cover and install a block to prevent the tailgate from opening unintentionally. For more information on the recall contact Fiat Chrysler Automobiles customer service at 800-853-1403.
Is your vehicle subject to a recall?
If you own any of the vehicles involved in these three recent or even older recalls, there’s an easy way to check to see if you’re affected.
Go to the NHTSA web site and enter your car’s VIN number. That 17 character VIN is a unique code that is assigned to every vehicle when it’s manufactured.
The VIN reveals many things about automobiles, including their airbag type, country of origin, engine size, model year, vehicle type, trim level, and plant name. This is important because the problems with recalled vehicles can be traced to a batch made at a particular manufacturing plant or plants during a period of time.
With a company such as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the VIN can also identify whether your Dodge Ram was manufactured in Italy or the U.S. Click here to see other ways you can find out if your car is subject to a recall.
When you receive a recall notice in the mail make sure to read it. Sometimes the recalls are for minor items, but as we’ve seen in this latest series of recalls some can be very serious to the point they can endanger your life.
Tags: car, cars, company, update
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