GM has announced a voluntary safety recall of nearly 700,000 pickups in the U.S. related to issues with the electrical power steering system. After reviewing customer complaints, GM has determined that certain 2014 light duty pickups may have a software malfunction that could cause a loss of power steering and lead to a crash.
GM has not provided any details on whether any crashes have occurred as a result of the defect, however it did note in public documents filed with the NHTSA that a crash is possible if the malfunction arises. Specifically, GM has found that the affected vehicles may experience a temporary loss of electric power steering (EPS), followed by a sudden return, especially when the vehicle is turning at a low speed. Although the interruption is typically only one second long, it could cause the driver to lose temporary control of the steering wheel.
Warning Signs
GM vehicles with this malfunction may experience a brief period where power steering is lost and the vehicle reverts to manual steer. A driver information center (DIC) message could potentially alert the driver regarding an EPS issue. Other electrical sub-systems could also shut down simultaneously or slight before the EPS shut-off, such as the door lock, air conditioning, cruise control, radio, or other electrical systems.
Vehicles Affected
2014 GMC Sierra LD
2014 GMC Silverado LD
These are the vehicles that GM has currently included in the recall. To find out if your vehicle is affected, call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline 1-888-327-4236 or visit their website.
How to Fix It
GM dealers are handling the recall by performing a reflash of the EPM module software. The software fix will be provided at no cost to the owner. For more information, consumers can call GMC customer service at 1-800-432-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
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