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GM Orders Massive 473,000 Recall for SUVs and Pickups Due to Safety Concerns

It hasn’t been that long since the large scandal that involved GM and its faulty ignition switches that could shut down the engine while driving, potentially causing a crash while also preventing airbags from deploying. Not a very favorable mix.
Chevrolet Silverado Family 1 photo
Photo: GM
This unfortunate set of events led to GM paying compensation for no less than 124 deaths, as well as one of the largest recalls in history: about 30 million cars had to visit GM’s workshops around the world to get a fix.

This time, GM is only calling back around 473,000 vehicles in the US and Canada, and the problem seems to be restricted to just three models: the 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD, the GMC Sierra HD and the Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicles.

However, the problem that prompted this new recall is as serious as they get: in certain conditions, these cars risk losing their ability to brake. GM says that the brake pedal pivot nut can potentially become loose, which can in turn make the brake pedal either loose or even completely inoperative.

While the risk involved is clearly huge, GM doesn’t make any comment on how likely it is anything of this sort to happen. But given the recent memories of the regrettable ignition switch disaster, GM is probably playing safer than it would have normally done a few years ago and is taking no risks. Which, by the way, should be the standard approach for any car maker in situations where the nature of the problem can lead to very serious consequences.

The fix for this simple, yet very important issue is equally mundane, Automotive News reports: the GM dealers will first examine the vehicle to make sure it didn’t already get a fix during production. If it turns out that the vehicle is among those potentially affected, it’s a simple case of removing the nut, adding some adhesive and reinstalling it back in place.
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About the author: Vlad Mitrache
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"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
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