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GM's MPG overstatement could affect 2 million vehicles

Late last week, GM admitted that three of its large SUVs fuel economy window stickers did not match their actual efficiency ratings, and so the vehicles couldn't be sold. The stickers on the 2016 Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave said their ratings were one to two miles per gallon better than they should have been. Officially, the number of affected vehicles sits at about 60,000. But Consumer Reports makes a good point: what's up with all of the previous model year SUVs that are basically the same vehicle? To wit: the 2016 model year vehicles are not substantially different than the 2015 or the 2014, or even going all the way back to 2007. On the EPA's fuel economy website, all of these older models will "have better stated fuel economy numbers than the new vehicles in GM's dealerships," Consumer Reports noted. CR's best point, and the one that makes the 60,000 number potentially grow to 2 million if all of the vehicles built on this platform are affected, is that "[i]t seems unlikely that the company would change the powertrain on these carryover models so late in their model cycles in a way that would cause a dramatic, negative impact on fuel economy." GM says that earlier model year SUVs are not affected and the EPA did not respond to CR's question about the potential for more discrepancies. We've seen automakers reverse course before, so if GM has to come out with a mea culpa soon, don't be surprised. GM is rushing corrected stickers to dealers so that the SUVs can be sold again, but a fix for the already-sold vehicles could be trickier to solve. Related Video: Related Gallery 2013 GMC Acadia View 16 Photos News Source: Consumer Reports Government/Legal Green Buick Chevrolet GMC Fuel Efficiency mpg gmc acadia chevy traverse

NHTSA closes 4-year GM investigation, issues common sense advisory [w/video]

Since January 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been investigating a possible problem with corroding brake lines in General Motors' GMT800-platform models, like the Chevrolet Silverado and Suburban and GMC Sierra, in states with salt on their roads in the winter. However, as opposed to launching a full recall of millions of vehicles, the government is issuing a common-sense safety advisory to all drivers in snowy states to keep their vehicle's undercarriage clean. It even has a video explaining things. "Older-model vehicles, often driven in harsh conditions, are subject to corrosion over long periods of time, and we need owners to be vigilant about ensuring they, their passengers, and others on the roads are safe," said NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind in the announcement of the end of the investigation. The agency was clear in its report that "brake line corrosion seen in the GM vehicles was not unique," and the government "has not identified a defect that would initiate a recall order." Instead NHTSA is advising drivers, especially those of vehicles from before 2007, to wash their vehicle's undercarriage in the winter and spring to remove salt or other de-icing chemicals. It also recommends regular checks by a mechanic to make sure everything is in proper order. According to the investigation documents, for just the GMT800 platform models, NHTSA found 3,645 complaints of brake line corrosion, which included allegations of 107 crashes and 40 injuries. The issue was found to be more common in vehicles over 10 years old. GM has released a statement (embedded below) that the company "supports the consumer advisory from NHTSA urging regular maintenance and care of brake lines on older vehicles." NHTSA Closes Investigation into Brake-Line Failures NHTSA 13-15 Thursday, April 9, 2015 Agency issues safety advisory on preventing undercarriage corrosion WASHINGTON – The Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today issued a Safety Advisory and consumer video encouraging owners of model year 2007 and older trucks, SUVs and passenger cars to inspect brake lines and thoroughly wash the underside of their vehicles to remove corrosive salt after the long winter in order to prevent brake-line failures that increase the risk of a crash.

AEV-upgraded GMC Canyon AT4X, Chevy Colorado ZR2 appear in spy photos

As with the previous generation, it appears the 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 will be getting a special AEV version. Not only that, but its twin, the GMC Canyon AT4X will get one, too. And as these spy photos show, they'll have some additional off-road accessories included, as well as bigger tires. We'll start with the GMC Canyon. The first example of the truck without any camouflage is not quite fully upgraded like the camouflage vehicles. But it has one part not seen on the others: the AEV snorkel. 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 AEV Bison prototype View 13 Photos The two appear to be riding on larger Goodyear Wrangler Terrain MT tires. These look like 35-inch examples -- 2 inches larger than the biggest tires available on the ZR2 and AT4X. They're also mounted on beadlock capable wheels. Besides the bigger tires, both trucks also feature a new bed-mounted spare tire. It's a full-size spare, and unlike past bed-mounts, this one places the tire flush against the cab. The benefit of moving the spare to the bed is departure angle. And while this position looks a little less like how trophy trucks carry their spares, it should provide better cargo space. Rear visibility probably isn't great, though. Generalizing based on what we know about the current ZR2 Bison, the new AEV trucks will probably get unique grilles, steel bumpers, fender flares, a suspension lift and possibly even axle ratio changes. Additional options such as a winch could be offered, too. We expect the trucks will be revealed within the next year, since the base trucks have already been shown, and these are just upgraded versions of those trucks. Related Video: 2023 Chevrolet Colorado walkaround