Ellie Kemp
Almost 600,000 vehicles are being recalled in the US over 'total failure' risks.
Sure, it's not uncommon for cars to be recalled - just ask Tesla. The electric car company, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has called back its polarizing Cybertruck eight times since their 2023 launch.
General Motors is the latest manufacturer issuing a recall, which impacts a whopping 597,630 vehicles across the States.
An engine defect was identified, which could increase the risk of crashing.
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Some 126,027 Cadillacs, 174,208 Chevrolets, and 297,395 GMC cars are covered by the recall, issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Thursday (April 24).
The connecting rod or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to 'engine damage and engine failure,' the notice explains.
Drivers may notice a few warning signs, such as loud knocking noises and an illuminated check engine light.
While on the road, owners might struggle to accelerate, find they're losing power, or even begin stalling.
Certain vehicles, equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine, are said to be affected by the recall. These include the 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL.
Owners are now being urged to take their cars to their nearest dealership for engine inspections.
NHTSA's notice states that any repairs or engine replacements will be carried out 'free of charge'.
"For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install a new oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual," the notice continued.
Between April 2021 and February this year, General Motors said it received 28,102 complaints concerning engine failure, as per the NHTSA - including 14,332 reports of suspected loss of propulsion.
Some 12 crashes, 12 injuries, and 42 fires were also brought to the manufacturer's attention.
GM clarified that causes were not always clear and that 'all specifically alleged injuries' for example, were 'minor or non-physical, and most were not crash related'.
Earlier this year, Kia recalled 23,000 cars after some EV9s seats were reportedly found 'without mounting bolts'.
A single assembly worker appears to have been blamed for the mishap, according to the recall.
Looking back at last year's data, Tesla was the car manufacturer which recalled the most vehicles in 2024.
According to Motor1, the company recalled a huge 5,135,697 of its vehicles last year. This figure came from a total of 15 recalls.
While Tesla recalled the most cars, it didn't make the most recalls in total. Instead, American automaker Stellantis reportedly made 72.
Ford followed closely, with 63 recalls over the course of 2024.
Meanwhile, Kia recalled over a million of its cars, its largest being 462,869 Telluride SUVs.