General Motors is recalling every current pickup and SUV worldwide, because of a software problem that can cause airbags to not inflate. The recall affects 3.6 million vehicles in the U.S. and more than 4 million globally.
According to the General Motors release, the automaker is voluntarily recalling the trucks, SUVs and sedans because the software can go into test mode and signal the airbags to not inflate. The software can also cause some seatbelts to fail.
GM apparently learned of a death caused by the problem earlier this summer and after investigating issued the recall.
- The vehicles being called back include:
- 2014-2016 model year Buick LaCrosse
- Chevrolet SS
- Spark EV
- 2014-2017 model year Chevrolet Corvette
- Trax
- Caprice PPV
- Chevy Silverado 1500
- Buick Encore
- GMC Sierra 1500
- 2015-2017 model year Chevrolet Tahoe Suburban
- Chevy Silverado HD
- GMC Yukon
- Yukon XL
- Sierra HD
- Cadillac Escalade
- Cadillac Escalade ESV
GM says it will notify all of the owners and update the software for free.
The recall affects nearly all of the auto giant's most popular vehicles. Automakers across the board are trying to find ways to update software without having to bring owners back to the dealerships. Recalls not only are bad publicity but they are expensive because they tie up workers making the repairs and they aggravate owners.
This is not related to the millions of vehicles that have been recalled because of Takata airbags. This has been a tough year for the automakers. Ford recently called back millions of vehicles for door latch concerns. Ford also changed its profit forecast because of the cost to fix the vehicles. GM says that this recall will not affect its profit predictions.