General Motors Co. is recalling 800,000 full size pickups worldwide due to a potential problem with the trucks electric power steering.
The action impacts 690,000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks in the U.S., the automaker noted. The recall impacts 2014 model year vehicles.
The trucks could suffer a temporary loss of the power steering, particularly during low-speed turns, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Dealers will reflash the software in the truck to resolve the problem.
“Events that demand high current, such as low speed turns, can cause temporary low voltage conditions,” according to NHTSA documents.
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“When the system voltage drops below 8.8 volts for more than 1 second – e.g., during low-speed turns – EPS assist is disabled until voltage returns to 9 volts for a minimum of 40 milliseconds, at which point EPS assist returns.”
The Silverados were produced between Jan. 30, 2013, and Sept. 4, 2014, and the Sierras between Jan. 29, 2013, and Sept. 4, 2014. The incident was first investigated back in February of this year, and the recall was decided as the best option on June 22.
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It isn’t known if there were any injuries or fatalities related to the problem.
GM told federal officials that the company made a series of changes prior to the 2015 model year to tackle sources of temporary low voltage conditions that disable the power steering, Reuters reported.
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The company did not offer a timeframe for the repairs.
Hard to believe GM didn’t consider this voltage drop in their design and test.