1.2 Million SUVs and Trucks Affected by GM Power Steering Recall

General Motors has reportedly issued a recall on 1.2 million trucks and SUVs over a steering defect affecting 2015 models.

According to the GM power steering defect recall, the power steering has failed on a number of 2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 pickups, Chevy Tahoe and Suburban SUVs, as well as 2015 Cadillac Escalade and GMC Yukon SUVs.

This defect has caused 30 reported accidents leading to two injuries, says GM.

The 2015 Chevy Silverado reportedly makes up more than 40 percent of the vehicles affected by the GM power steering defect recall.

The GM power steering defect recall is reportedly due to a voltage drop, that causes the power steering to fail. The power steering failure is momentary, however, and suddenly returns. The power steering failure reportedly occurs most often during low speed turns.

“These vehicles may experience a temporary loss of [electric power steering], followed by a sudden return,” reported the car maker to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) when it initiated the GM power steering defect recall.

GM also told the NHTSA that the loss of power steering due to the defect was more likely to happen “during low-speed turning maneuvers.”

“The loss and sudden return of EPS assist typically happens within a 1 second period and is caused by an electrical/software issue,” GM continued in its report to the NHTSA.

GM further reported that those driving affected vehicles could “have difficulty steering the vehicle, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.”

According to the GM power steering defect recall, owners and lessees of affected vehicles can return to their dealer to get a fix to their power steering. The fix is reportedly a software update.

The car company has not yet set a date to notify those who own or lease a vehicle affected by the GM power steering defect recall; however, the software update is ready, so consumers can schedule repairs with their car dealer now.

The software fix for vehicles affected by the GM power steering defect recall should come at no cost to customers, reports the car company.

While the GM power steering defect recall affects 1 million vehicles in the United States, a number of other vehicles that may carry the defect are in Mexico and Canada.

The car company announced the GM power steering defect recall on Aug. 31, 2018. GM says that it decided to initiate the recall after reports of crashes due to power steering failures. The investigation reportedly began on the June 28 of this year.

This is not the first time this type of defect has affected GM trucks. A similar GM power steering defect recall was reportedly issued for 2014 trucks in 2017.

Additionally, in 2014, GM recalled 1.3 million vehicles in the U.S., including 2004-2010 model vehicles, because of a defect that could cause a sudden loss of power steering. This recall included smaller passenger vehicles, including the Malibu Maxx and Cobalt.