GM to recall 800,000 SUVs, pickups

General Motors Corp. will recall over 800,000 vehicles to fix brakes that may be activated without warning, according to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released on Tuesday.

The recall covers vehicles model years 1999 through 2002 and include the Chevrolet Suburban, Avalanche, Silverado and Tahoe and the GMC manufactured Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL, according to the NHTSA.

The anti-lock brakes on the vehicles can engage at speeds of 4 mph to 10mph making it harder for drivers to apply the proper amount of brake pressure needed to stop, GM spokesperson Alan Adler told Bloomberg.

This potential braking condition is more likely to occur in environmentally corrosive areas, according to the NHTSA. The recall will be launched in 14 “salt belt” states including Rhode Island.


The defect will be fixed by having dealers clean sensors inside the wheels and apply a rustproofing compound to prevent corrosion the report said.

This is the second largest recall of the year for GM according to Bloomberg. In April nearly 1.5 million Suburbans, Tahoes and other vehicles were recalled for a seat-belt malfunction.

GM has cut the of recalls through July 31 by 52 percent from the same period last year to 5.4 million vehicles, Adler said. US recalls last year hit a record 30.7 million cars and trucks for all automakers with GM having the highest number of vehicles with defects, according to Bloomberg.

The biggest recall ever involved the the repair of ignition switches on nearly 8 million Ford Motor Co. vehicles in 1996.

Bloomberg