GM Recalls 3.5 million Trucks and SUVs for Brake Problems

General Motors (GM) recently announced a massive recall of approximately 3.5 million trucks and SUVs to address a vacuum pump issue that could lead to difficult braking. The issue has already been linked to 113 accidents and 13 injuries.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), the vehicles have a potential problem with the amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump decreasing over time. This lowers the brake assist, increases braking effort, and lengthens the distance it takes to stop the vehicle. GM added that a pump producing less vacuum power than needed can increase stopping distance and the risk of a crash.

The recall includes the model-year 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, and 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe and GMC Yukon models.

GM says that prior model-years used a different brake assist system design, and vehicles manufactured after 2018 were not equipped with the affected pump design.

The recall comes after the NHTSA began investigating the issue in November of last year.

In late June, GM recalled 310,000 vehicles in Canada for the same issue.

GM says that owners of the affected vehicles should go to a local GM dealer to have the electronic brake control module reprogramed. This will improve how the system utilizes the hydraulic brake boost assist function when vacuum assist is depleted. This will be done at no cost to owners.