GM’s first electric Chevrolet Silverado is facing another setback with a new recall. In November 2024, the Detroit-based automaker issued a recall for three units due to seatbelt buckle attachment bolts that were not properly tightened by the supplier.
The recent recall, filed with the NHTSA on February 8 of this year, affects 352 vehicles produced between February 23, 2023, and November 14, 2023. According to the attached report, an incorrect seatbelt bezel could potentially damage or tear the second-row center position seatbelt in the event of a crash.
The issue was brought to GM’s attention by a General Motors engineer on November 13 of the previous year through the Speak Up For Safety program. The engineer discovered that the wrong bezel had been distributed to the assembly line responsible for installing this part on the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV WT.
An investigation was initiated on November 28, 2023. General Motors conducted a series of sled tests, which revealed that heavy loading could cause damage or tearing of the seatbelt. These tests involved a 95th percentile male test dummy in a 35-mph frontal crash. The 95th percentile male represents an individual weighing approximately 100 kilograms (220 pounds), while 35 miles per hour is equivalent to 56 kilometers per hour.
Given these circumstances, the Safety Field Action Decision Authority had no choice but to file a safety recall with the federal watchdog. Containment measures were implemented at the Factory Zero assembly plant (formerly known as Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly) on November 13, 2023. GM explains that the correct bezel is designed to disengage under heavy loads to prevent the seatbelt from bunching up.
To rectify the issue, replacement bezels will be provided as the remedy. Dealers have already been instructed to replace the incorrect bezels, although GM has not specified whether these parts are currently available in stock. General Motors will notify owners by mail around March 25, 2024.
The Silverado EV, introduced in January 2022 alongside the Hummer EV pickup truck, does not match the off-road capabilities of the Hummer EV but offers 664 horsepower. After GMC unveiled the Sierra EV Denali, Chevy increased the maximum output of the Silverado EV RST to 754 horsepower. Both models generate 785 pound-feet (1,064 Nm) of torque.
In terms of driving range, the EPA estimates that the Silverado EV 4WT can travel up to 450 miles (724 kilometers) on a full charge of its 200-kWh battery. As for towing capacity, the electric truck can tow up to 10,000 pounds (4,536 kilograms) and has a hauling capacity of up to 1,440 pounds (653 kilograms). In comparison, the Silverado 1500 offers towing capabilities of 13,300 pounds and a hauling capacity of 2,260 pounds (6,033 and 1,025 kilograms), respectively.
According to the Source autoevolution.com