Fire Hazard Leads to Second Recall of Chevy's Large Medium-Duty Work Trucks

      Chevrolet

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      Chevrolet has announced another recall involving pickups, but fortunately for General Motors, this one is far less significant compared to its current V8 quality-control issues. Earlier this week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a bulletin informing dealers and the public that GM is recalling around 62,000 medium-duty trucks (4500HD/5500HD/6500HD) manufactured from 2019 to 2024 to address a potential problem with brake pressure sensors that, in rare cases, may lead to a fire.

      The company is concerned about a seal that separates the brake pressure switch from its electronic sensor. If this seal is damaged or improperly positioned, brake fluid could leak onto the wiring harness of the sensor, which may result in a short circuit, potentially causing intermittent activation of the truck's brake assist feature and increasing heat under the hood, which could ignite a fire.

      This recall seems to be an extension of a previous campaign launched in April 2023, which included trucks manufactured through that model year. The new campaign now encompasses additional trucks built for the 2024 model year. Upon its announcement, GM expressed concerns that some trucks might catch fire even when parked and unattended, leading the company to recommend keeping the vehicles outside until the issue is resolved. This recommendation was reiterated in the updated campaign.

      Customers whose trucks show a “service brake system” warning should be particularly vigilant, as this may indicate that brake fluid has already contaminated the wiring harness.

      According to GM's investigation, the seals themselves are not defective; however, in some instances, a zinc-based sealing material improperly utilized during assembly may deteriorate over time, creating debris that could interfere with the diaphragm separating the switch from its electronic components. The issue is expected to affect a small percentage (around 1%) of the Silverado 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD models produced during the affected period.

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