- The recall involves 66,669 Chevrolet Silverado HD models and 65,368 GMC Sierra HDs.
- GM is aware of 237 field complaints related to the fault, but doesn’t know of any crashes or injuries.
For a company that prides itself on building rugged pickups, GM is finding itself in a bit of a tailgate mess. More than 130,000 Chevrolet and GMC trucks in the U.S. need repairs due to a potentially dangerous defect: their tailgates could unexpectedly unlatch while the truck is in Park. No, this isn’t a feature designed for easy loading and unloading; it’s a problem that could cause your cargo to take an impromptu dive onto the road.
Water, Electronics, and Unwanted Surprises
GM says that the issue stems from water entering the tailgates of certain Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra models, which can then short-circuit the electronic gate release switch. This could result in the tailgate unlatching when the vehicle is in Park.
Read: GM Recalling Nearly 500,000 Trucks and SUVs Over Transmission Fault
While that in itself isn’t a huge issue, it could prove problematic if a driver doesn’t realize the tailgate is open and sets off for a drive, potentially allowing cargo to slide out and onto the road. And no one wants to be the guy with a mattress or toolbox scattered across the freeway.
In total, 132,037 trucks are affected. Specifically, the recall involves 66,669 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 HD models and 65,368 GMC Sierra 2500/3500 HDs, all built between August 1, 2023, and March 8, 2024. Only vehicles with the manual gate featuring power lock and release functions are involved; those with other tailgate configurations are in the clear.
The defect first came across GM’s radar earlier in the year when the tailgate of a 2024 Sierra HD 3500 unexpectedly opened and hit a trailer. The company is aware of 237 field complaints about tailgates that have allegedly opened while driving, but believes they are instead opening when the vehicle is in Park, as the body control module prevents them from opening when a truck is in gear. Moreover, it does not know of any alleged crashes or injuries associated with the fault.
Timeline and Remedy: Waiting for the Fix
Dealerships were notified of the recall on November 26, 2024, while owners will be notified from January 13, 2025. The fix is fairly straightforward: GM has instructed dealers to replace the faulty exterior touchpad switch assemblies.
