GM Broadens Brake Recall to Include Another 15,000 Vehicles
» Posted December 16, 2020 • Resources | Share This Post
The saga over faulty brakes in popular General Motors pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles recently continued as the American auto manufacturer announced it is expanding the list of the millions of vehicles being recalled.
General Motors said in October it is recalling nearly 15,000 pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles because of brake problems that put drivers, passengers, and others on the road at serious risk. The cars should have been included in a massive recall over shoddy power brakes last year, the company said.
The power brake system in a number of GM models is prone to failure, according to the company. The defect could unexpectedly make it much more difficult to slow or stop the vehicles.
“In some circumstances, these vehicles may have a condition in which the engine mounted mechanical vacuum pump output may decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist,” GM said in documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “If the vacuum level drops, customers may experience increased brake pedal effort, hard brake pedal, and/or potentially increased stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.”
GM announced last year that it was recalling some 3.5 million trucks and SUVs because of the same brake defect. More than 100 crashes and at least 13 injuries were linked to the brake problem at the time.
The initial recall covered certain versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks, as well as the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Suburban, and Cadillac Escalade SUVs, among others. The new recall covers additional Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe, and GMC Yukon SUVs, along with Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Yukon 1500 pickup trucks from the 2018 model.
GM wants the owners of recalled vehicles to bring their cars to a local dealer for a fix. The company says it will reprogram the electronic brake control module with a new calibration, a process that takes just about 30 minutes.
How a California Lemon Law Lawyer Can Help
The new recall is yet another reminder of how popular new vehicles often roll off of the assembly line with significant defects that can put people’s lives at risk.
Fortunately, California car owners and lessors have some significant rights and protections under the state’s lemon law.
The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act requires car manufacturers to repair vehicles while they are under warranty. The law also forces carmakers to buy back -- or, in some situations, replace -- vehicles that the company is unable or unwilling to fix.
If you are a car owner or lessor who is locked in a dispute with a car manufacturer over repairs, an experienced California lemon law lawyer at the Bickel Law Firm can help.
Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law lawyer today.
