Big Investigation Launched into GM Brake Vacuum Issues

The U.S. government is investigating more than 100 complaints of poor brake performance on 2.7 million General Motors big pickups and SUVs.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says a brake vacuum pump can deteriorate, causing increased braking effort and longer stopping distances.

The agency has 111 consumer complaints including nine crashes and two injuries. According to NHTSA:

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 111 reports of hard brake pedal effort accompanied by extended stopping distance in model years (MY) 2014 to 2016 General Motors (GM) light trucks based on the K2XX platform, 1500 series Pickup Trucks and Sport Utility Vehicles (Silverado, Sierra, Suburban, Yukon, Tahoe, Escalade). These conditions are attributed to deterioration of the engine-driven brake assist vacuum pump. Nine of these incidents included vehicles incurring damage as a result colliding with another vehicle or fixed object at low speeds.

The brake assist vacuum pump is driven by an accessory belt on the engine and serves as the source of power brake vacuum in the subject vehicles. Over time, the pump’s capacity to generate vacuum may deteriorate. The subject vehicles receive supplemental hydraulic brake assist from the ABS system, albeit at lower levels than the vacuumpowered primary system. If the brake assist vacuum pump fails to operate as intended, the amount of brake power assist supplied to the driver can be significantly reduced, extending the subject vehicle stopping distance.

A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency, circumstances, and safety consequences of the alleged defect.

The investigation covers 2014 through 2016 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. Also involved are Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, the GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade SUVs.