General Motors LLC (GM) announced on Sept. 7, 2018 they will recall more than 1 million vehicles suffering from potentially dangerous power steering problems.
Do you own a lemon GM truck or SUV? Contact Allen Stewart’s team of experienced lemon law attorneys today.
The Warren, Michigan-based manufacturer notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) they will recall 1,015,918 2015 Chevrolet Silverado LD, 2015 GMC Yukon, 2015 GMC Sierra LD, 2015 Cadillac Escalade, 2015 Chevrolet Suburban, and 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles built between Sept. 19, 2013 and Oct. 10, 2015.
The affected vehicles can experience temporary loss and sudden return of power steering, particularly during low speed turns. This condition can increase steering difficulty crash risk.
GM’s recall report states low speed turns can cause temporary low voltage conditions in the power steering system. When the system voltage drops below 8.8 volts for more than 1 second, power steering assist can deactivate until voltage returns to 9 volts.
GM opened a safety investigation on June 28, 2018 following increasing power steering loss reports. GM safety investigators and engineers analyzed reports between June and August 2018, determining the problems mirrored similar power steering problems found in model year 2014 GM trucks recalled in 2017. Engineers conducted extensive testing at GM’s Milford Proving Ground to “further understand and quantify” the power steering loss.
The manufacturer decided on Aug. 30, 2018 to conduct a safety recall.
GM will notify owners and dealers will update the electronic power steering module software free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM’s number for this recall is 18289. GM owners can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
Learn more about lemon law with our Lemon Law FAQs.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide your recalled vehicle’s loss value, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to assist you. Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.
Visit LemonLawUSA.org for more lemon law news