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GM recalls 3.8 million vehicles in North America due to braking issue

WASHINGTON — General Motors Co said Wednesday it was recalling 3.46 million U.S. pickup trucks and SUVs to address a vacuum pump issue that could make braking more difficult and that has been linked to 113 accidents and 13 injuries. The recall covers 2014-2018 model year vehicles, including some Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon vehicles. In late June, GM recalled 310,000 vehicles in Canada for the same issue. GM did not immediately explain why the Canadian recall occurred more than two months before it called back the vehicles in the United States. The recall was triggered because the amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time, GM told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in documents posted on Wednesday. The NHTSA opened a preliminary investigation into the issue last November, and said it had reports of nine related crashes and two injuries. It provided GM in July with additional field reports that prompted the automaker to open an investigation. GM said it could affect braking in "rare circumstances." The NHTSA said in a statement the "vehicles may experience brake boost failure, which would require increased brake pedal effort, leading to a hard brake pedal feel, and potentially increased stopping distance." GM said dealers will reprogram the electronic brake control module to improve how the system utilizes the hydraulic brake boost assist function when vacuum assist is depleted. GM said the vacuum assist pump, which is lubricated with engine oil that flows into the pump through a filter screen, can in some cases lose effectiveness over time, as debris such as oil sludge can accumulate on the filter screen. GM told NHTSA that prior model years used a different brake assist system design, and vehicles manufactured after 2018 were not equipped with the affected pump design. Separately, GM said on Wednesday it is recalling 270,000 additional U.S. vehicles in three smaller recalls, including 177,000 2018 Chevrolet Malibu cars with 1.5L turbo engines because an error in the engine control module software may result in the fuel injectors being disabled.

Regular-cab, short-bed Chevy Silverado Trail Boss pickup looks great

For all the wild popularity of full-size pickups, there's one configuration that U.S. buyers are no longer offered: the regular-cab, short-bed truck. Interestingly, however, GM still does make this configuration, and both the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra are offered with it — in the Mexican market. That body style, however, is available solely in ultra-basic work-truck form. But a custom wheel shop, JC Wheels in the Mexican city of Culiacan, has converted one of these Silverados to Trail Boss trim, and we're digging the result. The sporty shorty Silverado Trail Boss comes to our attention via GM Authority, after the shop posted it on their Instagram feed. The shop added a 3-inch lift, assist steps, Chevy alloy wheels, a Trail Boss front fascia including red tow hooks, and Trail Boss badging. They also added dark window tint, which seems like a good idea in sunny Mexico. In the U.S., the Silverado Trail Boss isn't offered at all in regular-cab form; it only can be had as a double cab or a crew cab, the latter with a choice of a short bed or standard bed. But size is often a hindrance for trucks that actually get driven on trails, where this regular-cab, short-bed variant's smaller wheelbase would be an advantage. Beyond that, the Trail Boss upgrades keep this configuration from looking like a basic-spec machine. That's even more true of the same outfit's previous efforts: the conversion of the GMC Sierra regular-cab, short-bed pickup into a Denali. With so many buyers choosing pickups as personal-use vehicles, it's not hard to think that this configuration could find an audience here. But the key would be to do as this Mexican firm has done and offer it in the desirable off-road and luxury trims, rather than as a basic work truck. Would you buy one? Sound off in the comments below. The next step would be to use this configuration as the basis of a full-size, two-door SUV, in the mold of the classic Chevy K5 Blazer and GMC Jimmy.

GM delays truck plant shift so workers can watch Detroit Lions NFC Championship game

It would be difficult to overstate just how big of a deal it is for the city of Detroit and its residents (and residents of southeast Michigan in general) that the Detroit Lions not only made it convincingly into the NFL playoffs but found significant success in defeating the Los Angeles Rams in the Wildcard round and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the following week. But if there's one thing we can point to as an automotive-minded group, it's this: General Motors has delayed the start of the third shift at its Flint Assembly plant so that workers won't have to miss any part of the game. To emphasize the magnitude of this decision, it's important to note that the Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD are built at the plant, and the popularity and, perhaps more importantly, profitability of those heavy duty trucks is so high that it's the only GM plant in Michigan that runs a third shift, as pointed out by the Detroit Free Press. The delay is roughly an hour in total, and workers won't be paid for that missing time. We doubt there will be any complaints. Granted, this isn't the first time GM has delayed starting a late shift due to a big sporting event. In prior years, delays have been recorded for some Super Bowls and for the in-state Michigan vs. Michigan State rivalry game at GM facilities in Lansing, Michigan. Still, GM's statement on why it would hold off production of such a lucrative pair of vehicles explains it better than we can: "We recognize the Detroit Lions playing in the NFC Championship game as a rare, unique opportunity that warrants this temporary schedule adjustment to allow employees to enjoy the game and make it to work on time." It's not GM's only show of Lions pride. Take a close look at the General Motors logo currently being displayed at the Renaissance Center, GM's headquarters in Detroit. General Motors is displaying its Motor City pride with a subtle logo redesign to honor the Detroit Lions as they continues their Super Bowl hunt. Read more: https://t.co/Jmc6bmMK6n pic.twitter.com/9bJJqOmwxB — Ad Age (@adage) January 23, 2024 The Free Press reached out to Ford and Stellantis to see if either of GM's rivals would be making shift adjustments as well. Ford has yet to provide a comment, but Stellantis, makers of the Ram truck and Jeep SUVs, has confirmed it will be running normal schedules at all of its facilities. For now, there's only one more question that needs answering: What if the game goes to overtime?