RECALL ALERT: GM Recalls An ASSLOAD Of Cars, SUVs and Trucks — 3.6M Vehicles Affected By Air Bag Woes

General Motors has been struck by the air bag bug. This one’s awfully serious — when isn’t a recall affecting air bags serious. Vehicles across its multiple brands are on the list, so, if you’ve got a GM product in your driveway, it’s time to listen up, Spies.

If you have one of the following, you should ring up your dealership or check your VIN on the GM owner center website:

- 2014-2015 Buick Lacrosse
- 2014-2015 Chevrolet SS
- 2014-2015 Chevrolet Spark EV
- 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette
- 2014-2017 Chevrolet Trax
- 2014-2017 Chevrolet Caprice PPV
- 2014-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- 2014-2017 Buick Encore
- 2014-2017 GMC Sierra 1500
- 2015-2017 Chevrolet Tahoe
- 2015-2017 Chevrolet Suburban
- 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado HD
- 2015-2017 GMC Yukon
- 2015-2017 GMC Yukon XL
- 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD
- 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade
- 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV

Here’s the issue, you see. Long story short, the module that controls air bags and seat belt pretensioners may deactivate in certain driving conditions. This means if it’s deactivated and you’re involved in an accident you will not have air bags.

Obviously, this is problematic.

So, if you own one of the affected vehicles we advise you to act fast, Spies!

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TomM - 9/10/2016 11:37:00 AM

+2 Boost

Yet - all the fix is simply a software re-flash - which all manufacturers have been doing a lot of. They did one on my MiniVan for the Air-conditioner door problem. Chrysler has done them multiple times for transmission calibration.

For a large portion of my life - the Air Bags did not deploy in my car because they had not invented them yet. The overwhelming majority of people will never experience a deployment in their entire lives. This problem requires a specific set of circumstances - for them not to deploy- unusual to begin with. Making this a "serious" problem is overstating it.

HenryN - 9/10/2016 2:33:33 PM

+2 Boost

The sheer cost of the recall to fix a "simple" software problem makes you wonder why large car makers with deep pocket don't make OTA updates part of their standard software package. When people continue to accept it as "business as usual", those car makers will continue to treat them as sheeps.

MDarringer - 9/10/2016 3:18:39 PM

+1 Boost

Indeed if Tesla can download updates it should be relatively simple to do so with other cars.

HenryN - 9/10/2016 7:40:54 PM

+2 Boost

Tesla does OTA updates. And it has been doing this for many years (as far back as 2012 that I know of).

When it comes to post-sales work, I understand there are middle men (dealers) to be pleased - but for automakers to continue 20th century practice is unconscionable. The technology is there, and the savings are huge. It will take several massive recalls like this for them to really change.

A simple software problem like this will likely cost GM upward $1B, and it may not stop there.