Chevy Malibu Lemon – Brake Recall
General Motors LLC (GM) will recall more than 200,000 vehicles after discovering potentially dangerous brake problems.
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The Warren, Michigan-based manufacturer notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Aug. 30, 2018 they will recall 210,628 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Impala, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Volt, 2018-2019 GMC Terrain, 2018-2019 Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2019 Buick Regal, 2018-2019 Cadillac XTS Professional, 2018-2019 Cadillac XTS, and 2018-2019 Chevrolet Bolt built between March 19, 2018 and June 25, 2018.
The affected vehicles are equipped with rear brake caliper pistons containing trapped hydrogen gas. This gas can infiltrate the vehicle’s brake system, degrading brake performance and increasing crash risk.
A GM engineer reported a potential safety problem after reviewing dealer reports involving GM vehicles failing pre-delivery safety checks thanks to soft brake pedal feeling. GM opened a formal investigation on June 12, 2018.
Livonia, Michigan-based brake supplier ZF told General Motors it was already investigating similar reports regarding their brakes in Volkswagen and Audi vehicles. ZF did not notify GM of the problem until June 14, 2018, and did not list GM as a brake purchaser in their initial recall report.
GM stated they have received 375 warranty claims related to this condition as of Aug. 23, 2018, though they know of no related crashes. Regardless, GM approved a recall on Aug. 23, 2018.
GM will notify owners and dealers will bleed the vehicle’s brake system free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM’s number for this recall is 18279. GM owners can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide your recalled vehicle’s loss value, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to assist you. Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.
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