Silverado, Sierra Software Recalled for Botched Older Recall

2019 Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Shane Bieber with 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss.

General Motors is recalling148,055 2019 model year Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 126, “Electronic stability control systems for light vehicles” and FMVSS 135, “Light vehicle brake systems.”

While receiving service at a GM dealership for an “unrelated” brake safety defect, these vehicles may have received the pre-launch version of the electronic brake control module (EBCM) software from TRW intended as the remedy in NHTSA Recall 19V889.*

This pre-launch EBCM software contains a potentially deadly error. If the pickup is started remotely using the OnStar mobile app or the driver enters the vehicle and waits five or more minutes before starting the vehicle using the ignition, this software error can disable the vehicle’s electronic brake assist and illuminate the ESC, ABS and BRAKE warning lights.

On 12 December 12, 2019 GM uploaded a software package to GM dealerships that included revised software relating to several GM corrective field actions. This software package included revised EBCM software intended as the recall remedy in NHTSA Recall 19V889, which was scheduled to launch at a later date. After uploading the software, GM began receiving warranty reports from GM dealers that related to the new EBCM software.

On 9 January 2020, GM and the EBCM software supplier TRW identified the software error. GM corrected the software file for the launch of NHTSA Recall 19V889 on January 16, 2020, and on 23 January 23, GM’s Safety and Field Action Decision Authority decided to reopen the non-compliance recall on Silverado and Sierra pickups that had received the defective software repair.