General Motors is recalling certain 2014 and 2015 model year Chevrolet Silverados and GMC Sierras as well as certain 2015 model year Chevrolet Tahoes and Suburbans over an ignition switch issue that could cause the airbags not to deploy in the event of an accident.
The defect was discovered through a new program initiated by GM called “Speak Up For Safety” before any reports of accidents or injuries.
The defect: in affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the “Start” position.
The hazards: if stuck in the “Start” position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the “Accessory” position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Not accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of the defect associated with this recall.
Affected vehicles:
| Model Year | Manufacturer | Make | Model | Production Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-2015 | General Motors | Chevrolet | Silverado | January 24, 2014 to February 26, 2014 |
| 2014-2015 | General Motors | GMC | Sierra | January 24, 2014 to February 26, 2014 |
| 2015 | General Motors | Chevrolet | Suburban | February 12, 2014 |
| 2015 | General Motors | Chevrolet | Tahoe | February 6, 2014 to February 13, 2014 |
Number of vehicles affected: 3,073 (in the United States).
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition lock housing, free of charge. GM hasn’t yet provided a notification schedule.
Owners should: customers looking to find out if their vehicle is included in this GM recall should visit recalls.gm.com. There, owners will be able to enter their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to see any open recalls as well as customer satisfaction programs. If the vehicle is part of the recall, customers should take it to a General Motors dealer.
Owners can also contact Chevrolet or GMC customer service with questions by using the following information.
Contacts:
- Chevrolet Customer Service: 1-800-222-1020
- GMC Customer Service: 1-800-462-8782
- GM Recall Number:Â 15573
- NHTSA Toll Free: 1-888-327-4236
- NHTSA (TTY): 1-800-424-9153
- NHTSA Website: www.safecar.gov
- NHTSA Recall Number:Â 15V640000
Notes:Â the recall comes a month after GM agreed to pay $900 million to settle criminal charges arising from an ignition switch defect that has been linked to 124 fatalities in the Chevrolet Cobalt. But GM says that while the problem seen here is similar to that of the Cobalt, the cause is different.
The trucks have ignition lock gears with an outer diameter that is larger than specifications, which makes them difficult to turn. As such, the keys can get stuck in the “start” position at high interior temperatures. If driven that way, they could slip into “accessory” if jostled or the cabin temperature cools, the automaker said in a statement. By comparison, the Cobalt switches didn’t have enough resistance to keep from slipping out of the run position.
Comments
Jesus Fucking Christ. Can we get one new car to the damn market that isn’t recalled because the manufacturers like to cut corners?
It’s not so much about cutting corners as it is about parts suppliers screwing up. What GM needs to do is become its own supplier and close the quality gap across most of or the entire supply chain.
This would be difficult and expensive for any automaker to do.
And there there’s Volkswagen (VAG)… which does this to nearly full effect. They do this very well, scale well, and are also more profitable (ROI-wise) than any other automaker.
I used to work at Rochester Products Division of General Motors and for many years we manufactured in house all the locks, keys and ignition switches for all the GM Marques and I can’t recall one recall issue. Maybe it is time to re-think some outsourcing strategies.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-21/toyota-recalls-6-5-million-vehicles-for-melting-window-switch /// Toyota recalls 6.5 million vehicles…..
The total number of units affected is only a drop in the bucket compared to total units.
The press always has a field day if GM or Ford have a recall no matter the size. The rice burners have a recall, it is on the 3rd page in small print.
I got my 2014 Silverado for employee pricing cause my HHR was recalled for ignition problem. Maybe they will offer me a deal on another new vehicle?
I think with thi ignition problems gm has had its time to move to a button start on all vehicles.
EXACTLY!