GM Recalling Nearly 500,000 Trucks and SUVs Over Transmission Fault

Earlier this year we compiled a recall league table and discovered that GM had issued far fewer notices for fewer vehicles than its rivals. But it looks like the General is making up for lost time. This week it announced that almost half a million trucks and SUVs from its various brands need work to fix transmissions that pose an accident risk.

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All of the models are from GM’s range of big, body-on-frame bruisers and were built between 2020 and 2022. Affected vehicles include the Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL, and Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV.

Related: GM Sued Over Shifter Malfunctions In Popular Chevy, GMC And Buick Models

GM discovered that a faulty control valve in the automatic transmission of the at-risk trucks and SUVs can cause their rear wheels to lock up without warning, which could make for some interesting handling characteristics. That’s a worst-case scenario, though one that drivers claim happened to them in 1,888 field reports seen by GM investigators. But even owners whose rear wheels keep turning might notice some harsh shifts resulting from a gradual loss of pressure within the valve caused by excessive component wear.

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In total, 461,839 vehicles are affected, though if you own one of the models listed you need to know that the fault only affects diesel-powered versions. Vehicles with gas motors use a different automatic transmission and aren’t caught up in the recall.

Fortunately for GM’s accountants, the fix doesn’t involve replacing the entire gearbox. Owners will need to drop their Chevy, GMC or Caddy down to their local dealer who will upgrade the transmission control module software.

This isn’t the only transmission lock-up problem revealed this week to be affecting GM products. A day after announcing the 461,0000-unit recall GM confirmed that a further 77,824 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savannah vans fitted with the 4.3-liter V6 or 2.8-liter inline four and an eight-speed automatic transmission would also need their control module software updated to prevent rear-wheel lockup.

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