General Motors LLC (GM) will recall almost 500 recently built Corvettes after discovering a potentially dangerous airbag defect.
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The Warren, Michigan-based manufacturer notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on June 18, 2018 they will recall 498 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 vehicles built between Dec. 8, 2017 and May 31, 2018.
The affected vehicles contain Sensing Diagnostic Modules (SDM) that, when exposed to hard braking and sustained acceleration, can enter a “fault state” and won’t reset until battery disconnection. Faulted SDMs won’t detect crashes or deploy airbags, increasing injury risk.
GM first discovered the defect on April 30, 2018 during a media demonstration of certain preproduction 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 vehicles at the Road Atlanta race track. Engineers found potential problems in their SDMs following the demonstration. The incident was reported to GM’s internal safety program on May 3, 2018, with the investigation beginning on May 8, 2018.
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Engineers began testing at the Milford Proving Grounds, and a field data search completed on May 17, 2018 found no related field events. Nevertheless GM initiated a safety recall on May 24, 2018.
GM will notify owners and dealers will reprogram the SDM with updated software free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM’s number for this recall is 18195. GM owners can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
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.