General Motors has announced a recall of hundreds of thousands of pickup trucks due to tailgates that may unexpectedly open.
The recall was initiated because the electronic tailgate release switches on certain makes and models can short circuit when exposed to water, opening the gates, according to a news release by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The release states, “An unlatched tailgate may open while driving and result in a loss of unsecured cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.” However, GM said it can only inadvertently open while the vehicle is in park.
“[The] control logic in the body control module (BCM) would prevent release of the tailgate latch when the vehicle is in gear, even if the BCM receives a release signal from the exterior touchpad switch,” the company said, according to CNN.
GM has reportedly received 136 complaints about unexpected tailgate openings. In total, 570,000 trucks in the United States and 250,000 in Canada are affected. This makes it one of the largest recalls filed so far this year.
The recall is targeting several GM heavy-duty pickup models:
- 2020-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
- 2020-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
- 2020-2024 GMC Sierra 2500
- 2020-2024 GMC Sierra 3500
Owners of affected vehicles are advised to verify that their tailgate is closed and latched before driving. To address the underlying issue, GM dealers will swap out the exterior touchpad switch assemblies. The replacement will be covered by GM, and owners are expected to be mailed notification letters by March 18.
GM’s recall comes in the wake of multiple recalls by Toyota. As reported by The Dallas Express last month, Toyota has flagged more than 680,000 vehicles recently, including the company’s midsize pickup truck, the Tacoma.
