General Motors (GM) is in the news once again for defects in their vehicles. A statement from the company is soon expected to announce that one million pickup trucks will require a mandatory recall due to seatbelt defects. When the driver sits down, it can add stress to a flexible steel cable within the seatbelt systems; after an unknown amount of time, this cable can snap and potentially render the seatbelt useless or largely ineffective.
The only affected models announced at this time (circa April 2016) are:
- Chevrolet Silverado (2014 and 2015)
- GMC Sierra 1500 (2014 and 2015)
The recall comes as a heavy blow against GM due to the fact that the Chevy Silverado is among the company’s best-selling and highest-praised vehicles. The vast majority of the recalled vehicles are within the United States, about 895,000 total.
A Silver Lining for the Silverado Automaker
There is a scant amount of good news coming out of this ongoing recall story. Firstly, GM was the group to determine the source of the defect, which means they were actively investigating the problem; in the past, automakers have generally been reluctant to point out their own faults. Secondly, GM expects that the cost to repair or replace the part will be insignificant, and may possible be performed at authorized dealerships quickly for consumer convenience. Lastly, there have been no reported car accidents or injuries related to this particular defect.
(You can read a full article posted by USA Today for more information by clicking here.)
It is important to realize that no reported injuries or accidents does not necessarily mean that none have occurred, or that none will occur. If you own one of the General Motors vehicles affected by this seatbelt defect recall, you are encouraged to contact your local dealership as soon as possible to figure out what to do next. If you have been hurt in a car accident and you believe your truck’s seatbelt may have been defective and added to your injuries, you can contact The Gilbert Law Group® by calling 888.711.5947. Our nationally-acclaimed auto product liability lawyers can figure out if you have a claim during a free initial consultation.
.png)
