GM Issues Stop Sale for Silverado HD and Sierra HD Over Potential Fire
In another blow to Chevy Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD production GM has issued a stop order over unspecified quality issues. But a GMC salesperson told GM Authority that the issue was wire chaffing. So the problem could really be the potential for fire if exposed wires short out.
Between production shutdowns and now this, Silverado HD and Sierra HD inventories are low
Inventory levels are down due to those production shutdowns and this will only add to this problem. Production for the 2022 models started on July 12th, so GM has just started cranking up the assembly lines for these new truck models. The stop order applies only to 2021 HD models.
“General Motors has notified Chevrolet and GMC dealerships to stop the delivery of certain 2021 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD pickup trucks,” GM Senior Communications Manager Dan Flores told GM Authority in an emailed statement. “We are investigating a potential quality issue with these vehicles. We have no additional information to share at this time.”
Staffing issues have also been a problem for Flint Assembly
GM has been dealing with production problems at the Flint Assembly plant in Michigan. Just this August production was halted for a week due to the ongoing microchip shortages affecting all vehicle production worldwide. And there have been staffing problems as well at the Flint Assembly Plant.
GM needed to fill 400 positions at Flint. It held a job fair to bring in new hires. But only around 200 vacancies were filled. GM then went on the local news to appeal to those in the Flint area to apply for the vacancies. It is unknown whether it was successful in rounding up more help.
Chevy made almost 600,000 Silverado pickups in the last few years. GMC saw production consistently of over 250,000 trucks in the last several years. Both truck lines are GM’s largest and also most profitable vehicles. So sales can’t happen fast enough.
Silverado HD and Sierra HD trucks have refreshed interiors and fascias
The 2022 model year is seeing a refresh both inside and outside for the GMC and Silverado HD pickup trucks. Interiors are all new and more in line with those from Ram, which leapfrogged over Silverado sales. And the much-maligned fascia has also been revised to get away from criticism of the design.
And while the stop-sale continues, there is still a backlog of 2020 and 2019 HD pickups in dealership lots waiting for buyers. A recall is probably in the works, and those HD models at dealerships will have to be remediated before they can be sold.
