In 2019 there was a major recall that affected several of GM’s most popular brands. Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC vehicles were the cars most affected, but it turns out that several thousand were omitted from the original recall. The original recall itself affected an unpleasantly high number of vehicles across several models and production years, but the newest addition to that recall means even more consumers are at risk. What leaves GM owners even more concerned is that the recall involves potential failure or reduced capability of the braking system, which can be as scary as it sounds.

The original GM recall

The original GM recall issued in 2019 impacted the vehicle’s braking system directly. According to the manufacturer, a fault in the braking system’s component, called the power brake vacuum pump, could potentially fail over time. This is caused by an unintentional build-up of debris within the pump resulting in loss of pressure over time.

Brake pressure is incredibly important to brake performance. According to an interview conducted by Consumer Reports, GM claims that as many as 113 vehicle crashes have occurred due to the failing brake system. While there were only 13 injuries, that is still more than necessary.

Newest additions to the recall

GM’s solution to the problem is that they will update the software in the affected vehicles with no charge to owners. Along with the vehicles originally included in the recall, several more models were reviewed and added to the recall this year. For 2018 model years this includes the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, and GMC Yukon.

None of the vehicles added to the list are small by any means, and large, full-sized SUVs with lowered braking capacity sounds pretty terrifying. Luckily for us, GM could include these cars in the year-old recall before there were any more accidents or complications.

How to know if your vehicle is affected

There’s no need to panic yet, even if you have one of the models and years under recall. The number of vehicles affected by the recall is only a percentage of the total number of each vehicle produced this year. Checking if your vehicle is under recall is free and only takes a few minutes. All you need is your car’s VIN, which can be found on your registration paperwork, on the dashboard in front of the driver’s side, and in several other locations.

Once you’ve obtained the car’s VIN, you can contact the NHTSA safety hotline or look for each manufacturer’s recall portal. Checking for recalls is absolutely free and can save you a lot of time and frustration.

The newest addition to the recall leaves owners feeling just a little bit uneasy. Not only did GM overlook the potential for the recall to apply to these vehicles, but it is also unclear whether they will find more vehicles affected by the faulty software. While it is free to have the repairs done, it doesn’t give owners much peace of mind.