3 Injuries, 1 Death in GM Airbag/Seat Belt Recall

General Motors (GM) is recalling nearly 4.3 million vehicles worldwide due to a software defect that can, in rare instances, prevent the airbags and seat belts from functioning during a crash.

About the GM Vehicle Recall

According to the Wall Street Journal, a sensing diagnostic module in the recalled vehicles can improperly activate a test under certain circumstances. Under these rare circumstances, the vehicle’s safety devices, including the airbags and seat belt pretensioners, are prevented from activating if involved in a crash.

GM says dealers will repair or replace the faulty software on owners’ vehicles for free.

There have been three injuries and one death associated with the software defect.

Description of the Recalled GM Vehicles

The vehicle recall involves several car, SUV and truck models, including:

• 2014 – 2016 Buick LaCrosse
• 2014 – 2016 Chevrolet SS
• 2014 – 2016 Spark EV
• 2014 – 2017 Chevrolet Corvette
• 2014 – 2017 Chevrolet Trax
• 2014 – 2017 Chevrolet Caprice PPV
• 2014 – 2017 Silverado 1500
• 2014 – 2017 Buick Encore
• 2014 – 2017 GMC Sierra 1500
• 2015 – 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe
• 2015 – 2017 Chevrolet Suburban
• 2015 – 2017 Chevrolet Silverado HD
• 2015 – 2017 GMC Yukon
• 2015 – 2017 Yukon XL
• 2015 – 2017 Sierra HD
• 2015 – 2017 Cadillac Escalade
• 2015 – 2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV

Airbag Nondeployment Statistics

• The Fatality Analysis Reporting Systems reports that airbags failed to deploy in 18 percent of fatal frontal collisions reported between 1998 and 2006.
• The National Automotive Sampling System/Crashworthiness Data System (NASS/CDS) noted that non deployment occurred less in first generation airbags than in sled-certified airbags, 7 percent versus 11 percent respectively.
• About 2 percent of airbag non-deployment in fatal frontal collisions represented potential system failures.