Chevrolet, GMC Pickups Recalled for Fire Risk
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GM is recalling nearly 325,000 heavy-duty trucks because a faulty engine block heater cord may fail, increasing the risk of fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The automaker is recalling 2017 to 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty trucks, and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty trucks. Also included in the recall are 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500, and 6500 commercial trucks.
Only trucks equipped with 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engines and optional engine block heaters are affected, NHTSA says.
Engine block heaters plug into an external power outlet and warm the engine, making it easier to start in very cold weather. Both the cord and the connection between the cord and the block heater may short circuit, which could cause a fire.
GM says that owners may notice smoke or a burning smell, poor performance from the engine-block heater, or coolant from the block heater pooled under affected trucks. When in use, the block heater may blow vehicle fuses or trip the circuit breaker of the outlet it’s plugged into.
GM told CR that it is aware of 19 fires related to this issue but no reports of injuries, crashes, or fatalities.
Ford trucks also were recalled recently for an engine block heater issue.
The Details
Vehicles Recalled
In total, 324,226 heavy-duty pickup trucks have been recalled:
• 2017 to 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 trucks manufactured from July 18, 2016, through April 18, 2019.
• 2017 to 2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 trucks manufactured from July 18, 2016, through April 18, 2019."
• 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500, and 6500 commercial trucks manufactured from May 23, 2018, through April 19, 2019.
The problem: The engine block heater cord or the terminals that connect the heater cord to the engine block heater may short-circuit and fail, which could lead to a fire.
The fix: GM says it is still developing a fix for this recall.
How to contact the manufacturer: GM has not yet announced when it will contact owners of affected trucks. Owners may also contact GM customer service at 586-596-1733. GM’s own number for this recall is N182206310.
NHTSA campaign number: 19V328.
Check to see whether your vehicle has an open recall: NHTSA’s website will tell you whether your vehicle has any open recalls that need to be addressed.
If you plug your car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) into NHTSA’s website and a recall doesn’t appear, it means your vehicle doesn’t currently have any open recalls. Because automakers issue recalls often, and for many older vehicles, we recommend checking back regularly to see whether your vehicle has had a recall issued.
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