An owner of a 2019 GMC Denali reported that, shortly after he received a recall-related repair, his power brakes malfunctioned and he had to stand on the pedal just to stop his vehicle.
The owner, Shawn O’Leary, described the incident as “terrifying” to the Detroit Free Press.
O’Leary is not alone. Many owners and lessees of Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles reported that their electronic brakes failed after they received repairs from an earlier recall.
General Motors reported that a software update from the recall disrupts the electronic brake module, and that drivers should not use the OnStar app to start the trucks.
One sign of a potential brake failure is a dashboard message that reads “Service Brake Assist” or “Service ECS.”
The Center for Auto Safety criticized General Motors for its initial lack of response. When the automaker told news outlets that it needed to notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration before notifying consumers, the Center’s executive director, Jason Levine, said that informing consumers was a “low level decision.”
General Motors issued a subsequent recall to address problems in its power brake-assist systems. The recall, which expanded to include some 2018 models, came after numerous complaints and an investigation from NHTSA.
Lemon Law Help by Knight Law Group is an automotive lemon law firm that exclusively practices in California. If you are a California resident who purchased or leased a defective vehicle from a licensed dealership in California, we may be able to help you get rid of your potential lemon and recover significant cash compensation. Model year restrictions apply: 2017–Present vehicle models only.
However, we cannot help those who reside outside of California or purchased their vehicle outside of California unless they are active duty members of the Armed Forces, nor will we be able to refer those to a lemon law firm in their states.
To learn more about the California Lemon Law and your legal rights, visit our guides on the California Lemon Law and Used Car Lemon Law for more information.
