Federal investigation into GM vehicles expands over brake failure reports
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expanding its probe into General Motors vehicles due to hundreds of brake failure reports. The issue affects over 1.1 million vehicles.
Federal regulators are intensifying scrutiny of General Motors vehicles following hundreds of reports alleging brake failure. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has broadened its investigation, which now encompasses over 1.1 million vehicles. The affected models include numerous GM electric vehicles, as well as cars manufactured by GM for Honda and Acura.
The core of the investigation centers on GM's "brake-by-wire" system, known internally as eBoost. Reports indicate a potential for spindle fracture within the system during operation. While GM states that critical safety features like anti-lock brakes, traction control, and stability control should remain functional until a complete stop, subsequent reports suggest they may become inoperable sooner.
NHTSA has received 227 incident reports, with the total number of reported occurrences reaching 745 when including those submitted directly to GM. These alleged failures have reportedly led to 22 crashes, resulting in injuries to six individuals across five separate incidents. No fatalities have been linked to these brake system issues to date.
The expanded investigation by NHTSA aims to thoroughly assess the safety implications of the eBoost system's performance under various driving conditions. The outcome could influence further recalls or modifications by General Motors.