Well over half a million Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain models have been caught up in a recall related to their LATCH (lower anchors and tethers for children) anchorage bars.
These bars allow a car seat to be installed and have been fitted as standard in almost all new vehicles built since 2002. A recall issued by General Motors reveals that one or more of the four rear seat lower child seat LATCH anchorage bars may have been finished in excessive powder coating.
On vehicles with too much powder coating, the bar could exceed diameter requirements under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 225. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that excessive powder coating could prevent the installation of a child seat. The issue was caused by supplier process controls that failed to adequately monitor variations in powder coat thickness.
Read: GM Tells Nine Owners To Bring Their SUVs In Over Potential Safety Risk To Kids
A total of 668,187 vehicles are involved in the recall. These consist of 454,722 examples of the 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox that were produced from June 2, 2020 and March 19, 2023 in addition to 213,456 units of the 2020-2023 GMC Terrain built between June 2, 2020 and March 19, 2023.
General Motors says that owners of affected vehicles should install child seats using the vehicle’s rear seat belts until they have their SUVs repaired. The carmaker will resolve the issue by inspecting and if necessary, removing and replacing the finish in the LATCH anchorage bars free of charge. Dealers were notified of the recall on May 11 while owners will be alerted from June 26.
The issue first came to GM’s attention after Transport Canada observed a 2022 GMC Terrain that had LATCH anchorage bars with diameters of 6.34 mm and 6.41 mm, exceeding the required 6 mm plus-minus 0.1 mm.
