The latest recalls associated with the Takata air bag have been taking over the news. But the latest announcements concerning the most recent General Motors recalls should also get our attention.
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 437,045 units of the Chevrolet Malibu vehicles have been recalled. The vehicles impacted are from the 2011 and 2012 year makes.
This particular recall impacts vehicles that were fitted with flexible steel cables connecting seat belts to the vehicle. Since these steel cables may be bent out of shape because occupants may seat on them upon entering the cars, the cable may rupture.
In case the cable ruptures, the occupant won’t be properly restrained and, in an accident, the seat belt will fail to secure the occupant, increasing then the risk of a serious personal injury.
According to General Motors, all impacted vehicle owners will be contacted in early July, 2015. If you were impacted and you would like to learn more about this recall, you may contact Chevrolet immediately to have any further questions addressed.
Once the vehicles are inspected at authorized dealers, the staff should replace the outboard lap anchor mounting brackets. Impacted vehicles should also be fitted with replacement cables if necessary.
But while this seat belt-related recall should not be ignored, it isn’t the only recall campaign launched by GM that is concerning safety advocates.
GM Recall Impacts Vehicles’ Brakes
According to the official announcement, GM has decided to launch the recall because the front brake calipers in the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon trucks may have been impacted by a problem that would lead to brake fluid leak.
The impacted vehicles were manufactured between January 6, 2014 and December 24, 2014. According to the official announcement, the vehicles may experience an increased stopping distance if the brake fluid leak occurs. As a result, the driver may have a hard time attempting to brake the vehicle. This difficulty may translate into a greater accident risk.
The company has indicated that GM should start notifying impacted vehicle owners on July 10, 2015. Once impacted consumers are contacted, they are urged to schedule a visit to an authorized GM dealership where dealers will have the front-brake calipers inspected and replaced if needed.
At least 14,838 units have been impacted by this recall.
If you were impacted in any way, make sure to avoid accidents or personal injuries by contacting GM immediately. You may learn more about the major seat belt-related recall or how you should proceed to have the issue addressed by following this link.