GM and Ford Issue Recalls Affecting More Than 590,000 Pickups, SUVs

A 2023 Cadillac Escalade. Courtesy of Cadillac

General Motors is recalling 449,671 of its SUVs and pickups because of a faulty low brake fluid warning system.

The recall includes certain 2023–2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESVs, 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2023–2024 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban 1500, 2023 GMC Sierra 1500, and 2023–2024 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL models, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Sept. 20.

According to NHTSA, the electronic brake control module software on those vehicles may fail to display a warning light when there is a loss of brake fluid.

“Without a warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash,” the federal agency said.

General Motors will fix the problem with a free software update that vehicle owners will need to have installed at a dealer. The company will begin notifying owners on Sept. 30.

In a separate announcement, Ford Motors said it is recalling more than 144,516 of its 2022–2024 Ford Maverick pickups because of a flaw in the rearview camera.

The NHTSA said that in affected vehicles, the rearview camera image may freeze when the vehicle is in reverse, reducing the driver’s rear visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

The pickups that could suffer from the defect are all equipped with Connected Touch Radios, which process the live video feed from the rearview camera. Dealers will provide customers with a free software update. Owner notification letters are expected to be sent on Oct. 28.

Ford told the NHTSA that the trucks with the flawed software were produced between Feb. 3, 2021, and Nov. 28, 2023. The automaker said it is aware of four warranty claims, 22 complaints, and two reported accidents, but it hasn’t learned of any injuries related to this issue.

One of Ford’s best-selling compact pickups, the Maverick has had previous recalls, including for an issue that may have caused taillights to fail and a software error that may cause the vehicle to shift into neutral on its own.

Earlier this month, Ford issued a recall affecting 90,736 vehicles equipped with 2.7-liter or 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6 engines. The automakers said faulty intake valves in the engine could fracture and drop into the combustion chamber, causing catastrophic failure.

Ford uses these engines in a wide range of vehicles, although the Sept. 3 recall specifically identified the F-150, Bronco, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Aviator, all made in 2021 and 2022. The automaker has since asked dealers to inspect and replace engines that didn’t meet the engine cycle threshold and provided a reimbursement plan for owners who have already paid for the repair out of pocket.