GM Recalls Silverado, Sierra Pickups Over Tailgate Defect

General Motors is recalling some 820,000 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks over faulty tailgates, the company recently told federal vehicle safety regulators.

The trucks’ tailgates may reopen unexpectedly while the pickups are in use, GM said in a defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That poses a serious safety threat for anyone in the trucks or on the road with them.

“Under certain conditions water may intrude into these vehicles’ tailgates and come into contact with the electronic gate-release switch, potentially causing a short circuit,” GM said in the defect notice. “The gate may inadvertently unlatch while the vehicle is in Park.”

“If the driver does not manually close the gate before beginning a drive, cargo in the bed of the truck may exit the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash, " GM told NHTSA. “Until the recall is completed, owners should check that the tailgate is closed and latched before driving.”

The recall covers certain Silverado and Sierra pickup trucks from model years 2020 through 2024. GM initially announced in February that some 320,000 vehicles would be called back, but later expanded the scope of the recall. About 570,000 of the recalled trucks were sold in the U.S., while the rest were sold in Canada.

GM said it received about 130 complaints of tailgates opening while trucks are being driven.

The automaker plans to notify owners of recalled pickups by March 18, according to the defect notice. GM will ask owners to bring their vehicles to authorized service providers for inspection and repair, using materials that will offer more water resistance.

Safety Concerns for GM Drivers

These kinds of recalls are far too common for GM and the world’s other major auto manufacturers. GM called back some 2 million vehicles in the U.S. alone last year, trailing only Honda, Ford, Kia and Chrysler.

Fortunately, car owners and lessors in California do not need to wait around for recalls to get defective and malfunctioning vehicles fixed. You have some valuable rights and protections under the state’s lemon law.

The California lemon law requires auto manufacturers to do a wide variety of repairs on cars while they are under warranty. It also forces them to buy back cars that they cannot or simply refuse to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the vehicle’s purchase price, as well as financing fees, rental car costs and other related expenses.

A manufacturer can instead offer to replace the vehicle, but it is up to the owner to decide whether to accept or reject this alternative arrangement.

There is no specific number of recall requests or attempts that must be made before the buyback or replace requirement kicks in. An experienced California lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights and explore your options.

Speak with an Orange County Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, an Orange County lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with an Orange County lemon law attorney.