GM has issued another massive recall involving vehicle safety systems. The latest GM recall recently announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) affects 4.3 million vehicles worldwide, including 3.6 million in the United States, and involves defective software that could prevent airbags from deploying and seat belts from tightening in a crash.
The defect is responsible for at least one death and three injuries so far.
GM learned of the software defect after a crash in May 2016 involving a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado where airbags failed to deploy. GM and airbag supplier Delphi Corporation tested the safety software and confirmed airbags and seat belts could fail in a crash in “rare circumstances when a crash is preceded by a specific event impacting vehicle dynamics.” The problem involves the sensing and diagnostic module, which may go into test mode while the vehicle is being operated, thereby preventing airbags from deploying and seat belts from tightening in a crash.
Only 2014 through 2017 GM vehicles are affected by the recall including the following vehicle models:
GM will notify owners of affected vehicles and update software free of charge. GM anticipates the repairs will be completed quickly because GM dealers already have the updated software at their dealerships.
Owners can call their GM vehicle brand customer service number, visit GM’s vehicle recall website at https://my.gm.com/recalls, or contact the NHTSA safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit the NHTSA website at www.nhtsa.gov/recalls for more information.
Owners will need to know their VIN number in order to determine if their vehicle is affected by the recall. VIN is the Vehicle Identification Number that is a 17-character (including the numbers and capital letters) specific identifier for their vehicle and can be located in one of several places. The easiest place to locate your VIN is on a metal plate on the lower left corner of the dashboard in front of the steering wheel. The VIN may also be located under the hood on the front of the engine block. You may also find your VIN on your vehicle title and registration card, in-vehicle insurance documents, and the owner’s manual.
