General Motors has announced a massive recall that will affect 3.46 million vehicles. The problem is very serious: the brake vacuum pump may be faulty. 113 accidents caused by this problem have already been recorded. At least 13 people were injured in the crash.
The recall will affect pickup trucks and SUVs manufactured from 2014 to 2018: Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon.
According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the pressure developed by a vacuum pump can drop to a critical level over time. As a result, braking efficiency is reduced.
NHTSA experts began investigating the issue back in November 2018. Already then it was known about nine accidents, in two of which people were injured. In July 2019, the reports were handed over to GM, after which the manufacturer himself began to study the causes of the malfunction.
According to the NHTSA report, the brake booster can fail in cars, requiring the driver to significantly increase the force on the pedal. All this can potentially lead to an increase in stopping distance.
GM dealers are going to solve the problem without replacing the hardware: they reprogram the electronic brake control module so that when the efficiency of the vacuum booster drops, the hydraulic booster comes into play.
The root cause of the problem lies in the fact that the vacuum pump is lubricated with engine oil, and a small filter is installed in close proximity to it, which over time can become clogged with various debris like oil sludge. In 2018, the design of the assembly was changed, so new cars are not affected by this sore.
GM recalls 3.5 million vehicles due to brake problems
