GM is alerting dealership service technicians that certain vehicles equipped with its Forward Collision Alert technology may falsely detect an imminent front-end collision due to a bent or misaligned license plate.
According to a recent post on GM TechLink, outside factors may “influence a collision warning” in vehicles equipped with Automatic Emergency Braking, which may occur when coming to a stop and there is not another vehicle or object in front of the vehicle. If a false collision warning is present, technicians are advised to “perform a visual inspection of the vehicle to check for any conditions that may interfere with correct vehicle or object detection by the system,” such as a bent license plate.
“A recent example from a dealership was a damaged front license plate with bent corners that was affecting system operation and resulting in a collision warning without anything in front of the vehicle,” the TechLink post says. “Exterior conditions or objects, even a small bend in a license plate or a dirty camera or sensor, can affect the Driver Assistance systems.”
If a vehicle has this condition, it will not produce a diagnostic trouble code, as the system believes it is working as intended. A false positive detection will typically be easy to replicate when driving the vehicle, however. This is also not a problem with the AEB radar itself, but rather the result of an outside factor. The TechLink post used a customer’s Cadillac XT6 as an example, although it seems likely dirt, a bent license plate or another similar issue could result in this condition on other GM models as well.
GM’s Forward Collision Alert technology will provide an audible warning to the driver, a tactile vibration of the Safety Alert Seat (if equipped), as well as a visual alert on the windshield or in the Head-Up Display (if equipped). The system also works with and augments other GM active driver assistance systems, such as Adaptive Cruise Control.
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Comments
Interesting, imagine if Super Cruise sensors could be fooled just as easily. I’ll say it again, it’s dangerous, in my humble opinion.
I’d love to think this would encourage more states to get rid of front license plates, but wishful thinking…
No front plate required in my free red state!
They’ll just make them out of plastic, like many European plates are. Now that most plates are flat and based on a computer-printed film, it’s easy to switch the backing material.
What happens up north when the front end is coated with snow and ice?
Reading this only reinforces my thoughts that we really must do a better job with driver’s education and as drivers we need to drive and stop relying on this “tech” to “save us”.
I can’t speak directly about the GM systems, but I do have daily experiences with the systems that both Mazda and Volvo use. I’ve personally experienced what these safety features will do when the malfunction (and they will). Not only have we had customers come in for service with stories about their car suddenly slamming on the brakes for no reason, but I been in cars where the alert system goes off saying that you are about to hit something! This while sitting at a stop light with no vehicles moving. I’ve also been backing up when something triggers (not sure what) the rear braking sensors and the car abruptly slams on the brakes. If you’ve never experienced this type of thing, it’s quite alarming. The first time it happened to me, it scared the heck out of me and I thought I actually hit something! I had to get out and check the rear of the car just to find nothing.
To have safer roads and safer cars, we need safer drivers, not more of this junk.
Just imagine the fun that occur when these self driving pieces of crap are unleashed inmasse.
…and we place our collective “faith” in GM to manufacture safe & well-built cars???
DAL: This is NOT just a GM issue. This is a tech issue. Above, Carl rightfully points out about being in snow climates with the snow, slush, ice and salt/brine build up. But when you and others attempt to paint this with a broad stroke of the brush like it’s just GM, you are totally wrong. It happens with Mazda. It happens with Volvo. I’ve heard stories about many other brands with these issues.
So maybe your comment would be better accepted if you would have said that we place our collective “faith” in the auto industry to manufacture safe and well built cars.
My work car (20 Equinox) has this technology and I am not a fan of it at all. I turn off the lane keep assist as soon as I start the car as I don’t like the nudge/resistance I get in the steering wheel as I am driving along the right side of the lane. Once, while driving along the outer perimeter of a Target parking lot it detected a fresh black section of asphalt from a pipe repair and alarmed while slamming on the brakes and one other time at a crosswalk with no pedestrian present. It overreacts to cars parked on the side of my neighborhood streets especially in curves. I like abs and traction/ stability control but not these other features.
@Dan: Agreed. I’m super glad my 2021 Malibu doesn’t have the lane keep assist. I love ABS, Traction control, blind spot monitor, back up sensors and camera, but that’s the end of the line for me.
In my job, I often deliver cars for our fleet department. Many times I’ll drive from the LA area to San Diego, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara and all over the general LA area. I can’t begin to tell you how many times the lane keep assist would kick in as I’m driving in my lane. The first few times I figured it was picking up the lines to my sides even though I wasn’t on them. One day I was in my lane and it started to try and correct me. I had to gently fight the wheel to not veer one way or the other, and I realized it was picking up the pavement lines within the lanes. After that I make sure it’s always turned off when I’m on a delivery. I can only imagine how these things can or would startle older people who don’t understand the technology or maybe don’t know their car even has it.
I guess that if you live in the city and have to park in the street you are screwed.