The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·16V651000·Announced 2016-09-08

GM Recalls Vehicles for Frontal Air Bag Software Defect

General Motors is recalling 2014-2017 Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick vehicles because a software defect may prevent frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying in a crash.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product (air bag non-deployment) where injury has not yet been reported, fitting the criteria for a High severity score.

Plain-English summary

General Motors LLC is recalling certain model year 2014-2017 Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick vehicles due to a defect in the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software. The affected models include the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, Corvette, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, Spark EV, and SS; GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL; Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV; and Buick Encore and Lacrosse.

In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the SDM software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners would not deploy in the event of a crash. A failure of these safety systems to deploy increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software at no charge. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact their respective brand's customer service line or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 for more information.

The recalled product

Product
GMC, CHEVROLET, CADILLAC SIERRA 3500, SUBURBAN, CHEVEROLET SS, SPARK EV
Brand
GMC
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag / Safety System
Hazard
Affected units
3,640,162

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (19)

  • SIERRA 3500
  • SUBURBAN
  • CHEVEROLET SS
  • SPARK EV
  • CAPRICE POLICE PURSUIT
  • SILVERADO 2500
  • SILVERADO 3500
  • YUKON XL
  • SIERRA 2500
  • TRAX
  • ESCALADE ESV
  • CORVETTE
  • SILVERADO 1500
  • SIERRA 1500
  • LACROSSE
  • ENCORE
  • YUKON
  • TAHOE
  • ESCALADE

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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