Suspension and Seat Belt Recalls Affect 840K GM Vehicles

GM recently announced a seat belt recall affecting 600,000+ trucks and SUVs, as well as a recall concerning the suspension in several hundred thousand more GM vehicles.

According to The Associated Press, GM said in government documents that the seat belt brackets may not be properly secured to the frame and may not restrain passengers in an accident. Reportedly, the carmaker will notify owners. Dealers will inspect the brackets and ensure that they are assembled correctly.

The seat belt recall reportedly affects the following vehicles equipped with split-bench, not bucket, seats:

• 2019 through 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
• 2019 through 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks
• 2021 Chevrolet Suburban
• 2021 Tahoe
• 2021 GMC Yukon XL
• 2020 and 2021 Silverado 2500 and 3500
• 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500

The carmaker said no crashes or injuries related to the seat belt recall had been submitted, according to The Associated Press.

More than 624,000 trucks and SUVs are affected by the recall, Fox Business reported.

In addition to the seat belt recall, GM has also reportedly recalled some older models over concerns about their suspensions.

The recall is limited to “salt-belt” states, the AP reports, because the problems concern premature rusting of the rear toe links that can lead to suspension failures. Reportedly, the rear toe link coating can chip off, exposing the metal. The metal can then rust, leading to fractures in the links.

According to The Car Connection, the problem stems from an excessive amount of electrocoating on vehicle toe links. Electrocoating is meant to protect the vehicle from corrosion, but the excessive coating reportedly made it more likely to strip away, exposing metal to salt and other corrosive material.

Fractures in the toe links can spell trouble for vehicles. Drivers can lose control of the vehicle due to instability, and accidents become more likely to occur.

Further, The Car Connection notes, there is no warning sign for drivers that their toe links may be fractured.

Approximately 213,000 of the following vehicle models are affected by the suspension recall:

• 2012 and 2013 Buick Regals
• 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
• 2010 through 2013 Buick Lacrosse

Additionally, the AP reports that the recall is limited to vehicles sold or registered in the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin or Washington, D.C.

No accidents or injuries caused by the suspension have been reported, according to GM.

The carmaker says owners of vehicles affected by the suspension recall will be notified mid-February and GM dealers will replace the toe links when additional parts are available, likely mid-March.

Consumers can check to see if their GM vehicle, including Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, HUMMER or SAAB vehicle is affected by either of these recalls online at the GM Recall Center. Consumers will need to provide their VIN.

Do you own a GM vehicle affected by the suspension or seat belt recall? Have you noticed problems? What are you going to do? Tell us in the comment section below.