General Motors (GM) has issued a recall for more than 323,000 heavy-duty pickup trucks in the United States, citing concerns over electronic tailgate release switches that may short circuit, leading to unintended gate openings while the vehicles are parked.
The recall specifically affects certain Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 trucks from the model years 2020 through 2024. According to documents posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website on Tuesday, water infiltration into the switches can trigger inadvertent tailgate openings while the trucks are in park. This poses a risk of unsecured cargo falling onto roadways, potentially causing road hazards and increasing the likelihood of accidents.
As a precaution, GM is urging owners to verify that their tailgates are securely closed and latched before driving their trucks. Dealers will be replacing the exterior touchpad switch responsible for the electronic tailgate release. Notifications to affected owners are scheduled to commence on March 18.
In response to the recall, GM has instructed dealers to halt the sale of affected vehicles until necessary repairs are completed. The decision comes after GM received 136 complaints related to unexpected tailgate openings, with reports of one minor injury and three instances of minor property damage.
The company is taking proactive measures to address the issue, prioritizing consumer safety and aiming to resolve the defect promptly.