- GM issued a recall for 323,232 heavy-duty trucks and put a stop-sale order in place for the sale of new models at dealerships.
- The recall includes 2020 through 2024 model year Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 models.
- The issue forcing the recall involves a malfunction in trucks with manual tailgates and the power lock/release function, which can cause the gate to inadvertently open while parked.
General Motors has issued a recall for its heavy-duty trucks and while the issue isn’t particularly dangerous, it does involve a large number of trucks—323,232 of them, in fact. The recall covers GM’s Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty pickups spanning from 2020 through current 2024 models. In addition to the recall, GM has ordered a stop-sale for current trucks on dealer lots until they can be repaired.
The issue causing the recall stems from the power lock and release function included in trucks with manual tailgates. The recall makes specific notice that trucks with other tailgates are not involved. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall report, the malfunction can occur when water comes into contact with the electronic gate-release switch within the tailgate. The switch may then short circuit, causing the tailgate to become unlatched while parked, and allowing contents of the bed to exit the vehicle and become a road hazard.
Owners are encouraged to double-check that the tailgate has been secured before driving their trucks until the recall has been fixed. As for the remedy, dealers will upgrade the exterior touchpad switch assemblies to “use a new material that improves resistance to water intrusion.” The change-over was made in production on August 1, 2023. Dealers were notified of the recall on February 1, and owner letters are expected to begin arriving on March 18, 2024. While waiting for that, owners can determine if their vehicle is affected by checking the NHTSA recalls website.
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.