GM Recalls 3.5 Million Trucks and SUVs for Braking Issue

It was and remains the fastest ground speed I've ever driven myself, when my red 1969 Ford Mustang fastback was clocked by the Lakeview Police Department (now disbanded) at 137 miles per hour on a straight section of the Proctor Street extension in old Port Arthur, Texas.

And let me tell you in those days it wasn't easy being a Ford man on Ryan Street in Lake Charles. Every Camaro, Corvette, Malibu, Chevette and even those old Chevy pickups with the 350s drivers had to eat dust staring ahead at the ever-distant ever-smaller tail lights of the old Mustang.

But I will give credit where credit is due because I've owned two GM products, both K5 Blazers, both with 350s, 4x4 and both from the late 70s, '78 & '79 year models. They were very dependable, rough and pretty rugged. But, they were the last offerings from GM before the 80s hit and the age of the 'comfortable and plush' pick-up truck arrived.

In the oil spill bidness I drove GM or Chevy trucks because they were cheap enough the company bought them as company trucks. In ten years in a Suburban and then regular 1500 pickup I went through three transmissions. But again, being a GM product, if they blew up, burned up, got swept into the ocean (you'd have had to have been on that spill to understand) or simply rusted out too soon, pardon me while I chuckle, it was ok. Just go get another one. True enough though, some trucks in the industrial field get into some really bad sh... stuff, some of which would take out an Army tank.

We could go on all afternoon with Chevy Vs. Ford, and I'd still win. It's a silly one-hundred year old argument anyway.

But like Daddy always told me, 'it doesn't matter how fast you can get it to go, just make sure you can stop it". Brakes are important too.

The Recall

If you do currently own a GM truck or SUV, you should immediately report to your nearest dealer as GM has issued a recall after some 113 crashes and at least thirteen injuries resulting from this braking issue.

The recall involves Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, Tahoe, Yukon, Suburban and Cadillac Escalade.

The recall 'addresses a flaw with the powered brake-assist system, which reduces the amount of effort a driver needs to exert to stop the vehicle. If the system fails, a driver may find that the brake pedal takes much more effort to push. Drivers may also find that it takes more distance for their vehicle to stop'.

GM added drivers may also observe other irregularities immediately before the brakes malfunction, vibrating brake pedal, an increase in pressure needed by your foot on the pedal and increased stopping distances.

The fix is available and simple as the dealer simply has to re-program the brakes. Owners who bought new or used affected vehicles should be getting a notice from GM shortly if they haven't already.

The total number of vehicles recalled: 3,456,111 SUVs and pickup trucks:

• 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado trucks
• 2014-2018 GMC Sierra trucks
• 2015-2017 Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs
• 2015-2018 GMC Yukon SUVs
• 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban SUVs
• 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade SUVs

Chevy national contact number is 800-630-2438, Cadillac 800-458-8006 and GMC 800-462-8782. The GM recall number is: N192268490.

So all you Chevy and GM drivers, get your machine back to the dealer as soon as you can, trust me, stopping is seriously important.