General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) is recalling 3.4 million SUVs and pickup trucks in the US to fix a brake issue.
GM recalls vehicles to fix a brake problem
The company is recalling the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500. This also includes 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks from 2014 through 2018 models years. The recall also includes the Cadillac Escalade from 2015 to 2017, Chevy Suburban and GMC Yukon and Tahoe from 2015 to 2018.
The company said that with time the pump in the power-assist brakes tends to put out less vacuum power than required. With the pumps in the power-assist brakes putting less vacuum power than required customers may experience increased brake pedal effort. They might as well lead to the hard brake pedal and increase in stopping distance which can lead to a crash.
Dan Flores, the spokesperson of General Motors, said that the issue is usually prevalent when applying the brakes at low speeds. He adds that the brakes continue to work and exceed the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.
The issue has been under probe in the last ten months
The company is making a move after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration instituted a probe to the issues in November last year. GM decided to take action based on customer complaints and field reports. For several months the company has been in talks with NHTSA regarding the issue. The road safety agency started the investigation after receiving 11 complaints from customers about poor brake performance. At the time the NHTSA had received nine crash reports that had resulted in two injuries.
Flores indicated that dealers would recalibrate the electronic brake control module in the vehicles. The recalibration will improve how the system uses the hydraulic brake aid the assist function once there is depletion of the vacuum assist. Dealers will reprogram the electronic brake control at no cost. Flores indicates that should the problem reappear drivers will be able to see a message on the dashboard informing them to service the brake assist system.