NHTSA expands GM brake investigation after 745 reports, 22 crashes and five Injuries
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is taking a much closer look at GM’s electronic braking system, and the scope of the investigation has grown dramatically. What began with complaints involving the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq now covers nearly 1.2 million GM vehicles equipped with the same eBoost electronic brake system.
NHTSA originally opened its preliminary investigation in April 2024 after receiving reports of a hard brake pedal accompanied by a “Brake System Failure” warning. The agency’s latest action expands the investigation to all GM vehicles using the system as it tries to determine how widespread the problem could be and what safety consequences it might have.
Drivers Report Losing Brake Assist
The concern centers on what happens when the eBoost system fails. Drivers have reported an unusually hard brake pedal and an apparent loss of brake assistance, either when starting the vehicle or while driving. A sudden loss of brake assist can require substantially more pedal effort and potentially increase stopping distances.
According to NHTSA, there have been 745 reported incidents, including 22 crashes or fires and five injury incidents. Those numbers are part of the reason the agency has broadened its investigation beyond the Lyriq. GM has previously attributed the issue to a spindle inside the electronic brake control module that can fracture during an ABS event. The automaker has said that a spindle fracture should still leave the vehicle’s anti-lock brakes, stability control and traction control functional until it comes to a complete stop.
NHTSA Says Some Reports Don’t Match GM’s Explanation
James Ochoa
NHTSA says some of the newer complaints describe a loss of brake assist while the vehicle is still being driven, rather than after the vehicle has already stopped. The distinction matters because the agency is specifically concerned that losing brake assist during braking could result in longer stopping distances and create a safety risk.
For now, there is no expanded recall covering the nearly 1.2 million vehicles that GM has eBoost on, spanning electric vehicles like the Equinox EV, Blazer EV, including its joint venture EVs – the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX. NHTSA’s investigation will determine whether the problem is more widespread than initially understood and whether additional action from GM is necessary.
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