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GM Recalls 1M Trucks on Defect Impacting Seatbelts

By Ephrat Livni, Esq. on April 19, 2016 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

General Motors last week announced a recall of more than a million trucks due to an issue with a cable connecting the seatbelt. The cable reportedly can bend while drivers are in the seat and eventually cause the belts to loosen, reports GM; but it said no one has been hurt from this defect.

Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks from 2014 and 2015, distributed in the US, Canada, the Middle East, and Latin America, are all affected. The company has reportedly warned dealers not to sell these vehicles until the cables are repaired, providing instruction on their replacement.

Relatively Mild Recall

According to the Associated Press, GM said it found the problem by analyzing warranty data. There have been no reports of crashes or injuries due to the cables, and the company says the problem occurs only rarely. It is most likely to affect businesses with trucks used by businesses in which drivers frequently enter and exit their vehicles, GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson said.

The company said that the recall costs will be covered by money in its warranty reserves and thus does not expect serious financial losses from the cable problem. GM has been hit with numerous lawsuits for injuries and deaths due to other defects and, as such, must be acutely aware of the risk involved in failing to act on any potential hazard as soon as it becomes aware.

An ignition-switch-related defect led to a series of lawsuits involving multiple claims ... so much so that GM created a fund to process and pay victims and their families. That defect impacted more than 2.5 million cars, and was a serious public relations and logistical nightmare for the company. In comparison, this latest cable issue involving no injuries seems quite mild.

Injured Due to a Defect?

If you have been injured due to a defective product, be it a GM vehicle or otherwise, speak to a lawyer. Many attorneys consult for free or a minimal fee and will be happy to discuss your case.

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