GM Recalls 450,000 Vehicles for Brake Control Software Failure

General Motors is recalling 449,671 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Escalade ESV vehicles. The electronic brake control module software may fail to display a warning light when a loss of brake fluid occurs. These vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, “Light Vehicle Brake Systems.” The recall safety defect is caused by a mismatch between the electronic brake control module (eBCM) software and eBCM calibrations.

“A driver may not receive an indicator of a loss of brake fluid before the level is below FMVSS 135’s requirement. In the event of a brake fluid leak, the vehicle’s brake pedal performance may degrade before the BRAKE telltale timely illuminates in accordance with FMVSS 135, increasing the risk of a crash. In the event of a brake fluid leak, affected vehicles still meet FMVSS 135’s stopping-distance requirements,” GM said in the required NHTSA filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning.

“A GM engineer submitted this issue to GM’s Speak Up For Safety (SUFS) program on 18 April 2024 after observing no illumination of the required telltale during a forced brake fluid leak test. GM opened a product investigation on 30 April 2024. The investigation found that a mismatch in the eBCM software and eBCM calibrations released to vehicles at the assembly plant causes the system to fail to detect and notify of a brake fluid leak when required by FMVSS No. 135. GM is not aware of any crashes or injuries associated with this condition. On 5 September 2024, GM’s Safety Field Action Decision Authority (SFADA) decided to conduct a non-compliance recall,” GM said.

General Motors will update the software in the vehicles’ Electronic Brake Control Module (eBCM) to correct the safety defect. For vehicles that are capable of receiving over-the-air (OTA) updates, owners who have accepted applicable terms and conditions will have the opportunity to accept these software changes using OTA technology without having to bring their vehicle to a dealership. Alternatively, owners may schedule to have the updates performed at a GM dealer. Pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 573.13 (d)(1), all covered vehicles are under warranty, so reimbursement is not offered.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 28 October 2024. Owners can contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM’s number for this recall is N242447990. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov about NHTSA 24V674.