People Tried to Do Robots’ Work, and Now General Motors Is Paying for It

General Recall Information

General Motors has issued two new recall notices affecting 1,245 vehicles. While this number is small, both cases involve serious safety issues.

Airbag Problems in the Hummer EV

The first recall concerns 354 model year 2026 GMC Hummer Pickup and SUV vehicles. In these vehicles, the front passenger airbag may not deploy in the event of a crash.

According to a government agency, the connection for the front passenger airbag may have an incorrect wire crimp, which affects the signals to the airbag. This could result in the airbag not deploying properly.

GM first learned of this issue in August when an employee reported that a wire had become disconnected from the airbag connector during assembly.

This triggered an investigation which found that the wiring harness supplier “implemented a manual crimping process for three days when its automated equipment was down for maintenance.” These manual crimps were inconsistent and could fail to provide a secure connection.

2026 GMC Hummer EV SUV

Resolving the Hummer Issue

To fix the defect, dealers will install an additional wiring harness that replaces “the section of the instrument panel harness that includes the front passenger airbag connector.” Notification letters to owners are scheduled to be mailed on December 22.

Missing Protective Tape in the Silverado

The second recall involves 891 Chevrolet Silverado 4500 HD, 5500 HD, and 6500 HD trucks from the 2019 and 2020 model years. This campaign is a re-recall aimed at correcting an issue that arose after a previous recall.

The vehicles were initially recalled this summer due to problems with the brake pressure sensor block, which could allow brake fluid to leak past the diaphragm seal. This meant brake fluid could enter electrical components and cause a short circuit.

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500

Consequences of the Previous Repair

Unfortunately for customers, these vehicles were repaired using an additional brake wiring harness that lacked protective tape. This can lead to wire damage, resulting in the brake system not providing the necessary braking assistance.

Troubleshooting Process

The solution is quite simple: dealership technicians will remove the wiring harness, apply protective tape, and reinstall it. Owners will receive notifications shortly before Christmas.

Chevrolet Silverado 4500 Interior

These incidents demonstrate how crucial quality control is at all stages of automobile manufacturing. Even minor deviations from standard procedures, such as manual wire crimping or the absence of protective tape, can lead to serious safety consequences for drivers and passengers. General Motors is responding promptly to these issues, which reflects a responsible approach to ensuring customer safety, even when it concerns a relatively small number of vehicles.

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