GM Transmission Oil Leak

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General Motors has decided that a safety defect exists in certain 2018-2020 Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles. They will be notifying owners with instructions about how to get their vehicle repaired.

According to the defect report, some of these vehicles are equipped with a start / stop accumulator that may have missing bolts on the end cap. These loose bolts could result in a transmission oil leak that could progress into a complete loss of vehicle propulsion. A transmission leak in the presence of an ignition source could also result in a vehicle fire.

Vehicles Affected Include
2018-2019 Buick LaCrosse
2019-2020 Buick Encore
2019-2020 Buick Enclave
2019-2020 Cadillac XT4
2020 Cadillac XT6
2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze
2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox
2018-2020 Chevrolet Traverse
2018 Chevrolet Malibu
2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer
2018-2020 GMC Terrain
2019-2020 GMC Acadia

Dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace any missing bolts. GM’s number for this recall is N202313440 and the NHTSA campaign number is 20V-668.

Chevrolet Bolt Investigated For Battery Fires

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have opened an investigation into certain 2017-2020 Chevrolet Bolt electric cars after several complaints of vehicle fires. The NHTSA says it was contacted by two owners who reported that their Bolt EVs caught fire while parked and unattended. In one case the vehicle was plugged into a charger in the owner’s driveway when it caught fire. The second vehicle was parked but not plugged in approximately 20 minutes after being driven, before it caught fire. Additional research by the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) found a third vehicle, a 2017 Bolt EV with a similar burn patterns.

In all three cases, fire damage appeared to come from the battery compartment with fire passing into the passenger compartment from under the rear seat. The root cause of the fires is unknown and the ODI is opening a “preliminary evaluation” into the matter. If the investigation results in a vehicle recall, approximately 78,000 Chevy Bolt EVs would be affected.

Electronic Brake Boost Contamination In GM Vehicles

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General Motors will be contacting the owners of certain 2020-2021 Buick Encore GX , 2020 Cadillac CT4, CT5 and XT4, 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles because of a problem affecting the electronic brake boost system.

According to the defect report, a connector in the system may have become contaminated during the manufacturing process. The contamination could interrupt the communication between the sensor and the system, under certain conditions. If communication is interrupted, electronic brake assist could be lost and the driver will require extra pedal force to stop the vehicle. Drivers may also notice an illuminated brake warning light in the instrument panel and the vehicle speed may be limited.

Owners receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealers to have the electronic brake boost module replaced. GM’s number for this recall is A202307260 and the NHTSA campaign number is 20V-588.

GM Infotainment Problems

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A class action lawsuit has been filed against General Motors for problems affecting its IOR 7 inch infotainment system installed in certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet and GMC vehicles. The lawsuit alleges that GM’s infotainment system problems are a dangerous threat to drivers and passengers.

According to vehicle owners, GM dealers refuse to replace or repair the faulty infotainment systems. The automaker has not released a recall, although they have issued a technical service bulletin acknowledging there is a problem. (NHTSA-TSB-PIT572)

The class-action lawsuit claim that certain GM vehicles with IOR 7 inch infotainment systems are prone to experiencing a range of different issues. Some owners say that the ringer never shuts off with incoming Bluetooth calls and the vehicle operator must turn off the ignition, open and close the vehicle door, and restart the ignition to stop it. Some say the rear view camera’s display image will stay on for up to one minute after shifting out of reverse. The biggest complaint reported involves the the system’s audio volume which will suddenly spike to max volume, distracting drivers while they are behind the wheel.

Vehicles Affected Include
2019 Chevrolet Colorado
2019 Chevrolet Equinox
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2020 Chevrolet Blazer
2020 Chevrolet Camaro
2020 Chevrolet Colorado
2020 Chevrolet Equinox
2020 Chevrolet Sonic
2020 Chevrolet Trax
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2020 Chevrolet 2500HD
2020 Chevrolet 3500HD
2019 GMC Canyon
2019 GMC Sierra 1500
2020 GMC Canyon
2020 GMC Terrain
020 GMC Sierra 1500
2020 GMC 2500HD
2020 GMC 3500HD

The California lemon law provides a solution for California consumers who have repeated problems related to the use, value, or safety of their vehicle. It applies to all new and many used vehicles, whether purchased or leased, for personal and most small business use. If you think your vehicle could be a lemon, fill out the “Free Lemon Law Case Review” form at the top of this page.

GM Trucks Brake Pedal Vibration

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General Motors has identified a defect which could affect vehicle safety in certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and GMC Yukon vehicles equipped with 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engines. They will be asking owners to return to their dealerships to have the Electronic Brake Control Module reprogrammed.

According to the defect report, these vehicles may have a condition in which the engine mounted vacuum pump output could decrease over time. If the vacuum level drops, drivers may notice a vibration in the brake pedal, increased braking effort, a hard brake pedal and/or increased stopping distances. The drivers information center “Service Brakes” warning light will illuminate and a diagnostic code will be set. The condition is most prevalent at low speed and soft braking.

Dealers will correct the problem by reprogramming the electronic brake control module to improve how the system uses the hydraulic brake boost assist function when the vacuum assist is depleted. GM’s number for this recall is N202300860 and the NHTSA campaign number is 20V-603.

2019 Ford F-250 And F-350 – Steering Pulls To The Left Or Right

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Ford Motor Company will be contacting the owners of certain 2019 F-250 and F-350, single rear wheel and dual rear wheel 4X4 trucks, because the front axle could have a problem which makes it difficult to control the vehicle.

According to the defect report, the affected vehicles may have been manufactured with front axles with a wheel end yoke that was not properly welded to the axle tube end. An improperly welded axle yoke attachment could affect vehicle control, including:

1. pulling to the right or left
2. mis-alignment of the steering wheel
3. change in steering sensitivity
4. vehicle response time during hard braking

During a hard braking event, drivers may experience a loud popping noise from the front axle before vehicle control is affected.

Owners receiving notices will be instructed to return to their Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the front axle wheel yoke weld location inspected. If the weld is in the wrong place, the axle assembly will be replaced. Ford’s number for this recall is 20S56 and the NHTSA campaign number is 20V-576 .

VW / Jeep – Illuminated Airbag Warning

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An illuminated airbag warning light in certain 2019 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles could mean an airbag crash sensor needs replacement.

ZF North America, the manufacturer of Remote Accelerometer Sensors (RAS) installed in these vehicles, are recalling certain RAS built from a specific production period. According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, soldering connections inside the sensors may have been damaged due to exposure to higher than expected temperatures during manufacturing. As reported by FCA and VW, if present in a vehicle, an affected airbag crash sensor may not communicate correctly with the airbag control module. If this occurs, the airbag warning light will illuminate.

Warning: There is a risk of delayed airbag deployment during a frontal crash or a risk of a non-deployment in low speed collisions.

Those receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealers to have the air bag crash sensor replaced. Chrysler’s number for this recall is V63. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 69AL. The NHTSA campaign number is 20E-052.

Kia Stinger Engine Compartment Fire

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Some 2019 Kia Stinger vehicles equipped with 3.3L T-GDI engines and manufactured between June 21, 2018 to July 9, 2019 could experience an engine compartment fire. There have been six (6) fire related customer complaints and no known crashes or injuries related to this problem.

According to the defect report, these vehicles could experience an engine compartment fire in the area of the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU). Kia is still investigating possible causes and are asking drivers to watch for signals that a fire could occur. This includes the illumination of warning lights on the instrument panel, including tire pressure, ABS and MIL lights. Other signs include a burning or melting odor and smoke from the engine compartment. Owners should park their vehicles outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall is repaired.

The fix for this defect is still under development and is expected to begin October. Kia’s recall number is SC196 and the NHTSA campaign number is 20V-518.