GM Recalling Nearly 450,000 Trucks and SUVs Including Silverados, Sierras, Tahoes and Escalades Because of Brake Fluid Warning Light Problem

According to NHTSA, a brake fluid warning light might fail to alert drivers to low brake fluid levels.

These are the headaches that automakers don’t need, because recalls are expensive and irritating to owners. Luckily, no accidents have occurred because an engineer discovered the issue relatively quickly.  GM is recalling nearly 450,000 of its top-selling trucks and SUVs because of a problem with the electronic brake control module. The module may fail to trigger a warning light when the brake fluid level falls too low. Not knowing that you have low brake fluid could increase the risk of a crash, but the vehicles can still be driven. According to the report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the recall involves the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 pickups. The recall also includes the 2023 and 2024 Chevrolet Tahoes, Chevrolet Suburbans, GMC Yukons, Yukon XLs, Cadillac Escalades, and Cadillac Escalade ESVs.

What is Causing the Recall

According to the NHTSA report,

“A GM engineer submitted this issue to GM’s Speak Up For Safety (SUFS) program on April 18, 2024 after observing no illumination of the required telltale during a forced brake fluid leak test. GM opened a product investigation on April 30, 2024. The investigation found that a mismatch in the eBCM (Electronic Brake Control Module) software and eBCM calibrations released to vehicles at the assembly plant causes the system to fail to detect and notify of a brake fluid leak when required by FMVSS No. 135. GM is not aware of any crashes or injuries associated with this condition.”

The recalled vehicles still meet the government’s stopping-distance requirements. According to the engineer’s tests, the red brake light does illuminate if the vehicle suddenly loses all of its brake fluid.

How GM Will Fix the Brake Control Module Issue

According to NHTSA, General Motors will update the software in the vehicles’ Electronic Brake Control Module (eBCM) to correct the condition. For vehicles that are capable of receiving over-the-air (OTA) updates, owners who have accepted applicable terms and conditions will have the opportunity to accept these software changes using OTA technology without having to bring their vehicle to a dealership. Alternatively, owners may schedule to have the updates performed at a GM dealer.

Luckily, all of the vehicles being recalled are under warranty, but recalls just add costs that automakers don’t need and are often inconvenient to owners, especially if you have to go back to the dealer.

The NHTSA number for this recall is 24V-674. The GM number for the recall is N242447990.

Chevrolet Photo

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

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