General Motors (GM) has recalled its 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra six times this year so far, making them the most frequently recalled vehicles. And unfortunately for GM, that is not the end of the pickups’ recall history, they have been recalled a total of nine times since they were introduced one year ago, according to CNNMoney.
The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra are two of GM’s most popular vehicles. In January, auto critics at the Detroit auto show declared the Silverado, GM’s best-selling vehicle in the country, Truck of the Year. The Sierra is the best-selling GMC model, according to CNNMoney. The two pickups are extremely similar, with the Sierra simply being the high-end, costlier version of the Silverado.
Although GM could not specify how many trucks were affected by all six recalls, the company estimated the number to be very low since two of the recalls were particularly small. A steering problem prompted GM to recall 477 trucks in May, and in June 184 were recalled for unsecured floor mats. The size of a recall, however, does not necessarily correlate with its severity. The steering wheel recall was so worrisome that GM was forced to implement several measures. Customers were contacted via overnight letters and OnStar in-vehicle communication systems instructed them to stop driving the trucks immediately. Flatbed trucks were sent to take the vehicles in for repair.
According to CNNMoney, the four other recalls include: 559,000 vehicles due to an unsecured oil cooler line, 467,000 vehicles that could unexpectedly shift into neutral, 378,000 trucks whose exhaust components had the potential to overheat, 70,000 vehicles that with warning chimes that failed to work when a door was open.
GM is at the center of a controversy due to an ignition switch defect that has led to the recall of 2.6 million cars. The issue is that the ignition can switch the car out of the “run” mode and into the “accessory” mode, particularly when there is too much weight on the keys. The defect has been linked 13 deaths and 54 crashes. Evidence shows that GM was aware of the issue for a decade before it alerted the public.
