Possible Unexpected Opening of Chevy & GMC Heavy-Duty Truck Tailgates: What Worried Drivers Need to Know

Safety concerns arise with recall of 320,000 loaded HD trucks.

The automotive company, General Motors, has announced a product recall for its heavy-duty trucks. This is due to a defect in the tailgates that could potentially cause them to open unintentionally while on the road. This poses a significant risk of accidents, particularly when the cargo bed is carrying a load. General Motors has taken action after receiving reports of tailgate malfunctions from customers. The recall affects all heavy-duty trucks manufactured by the company, as they all feature the same faulty tailgate design. It is estimated that over 100,000 trucks are affected by this issue and are being called back for inspections and repairs.This recall highlights the importance of thoroughly testing and ensuring the safety of all vehicle components before releasing them to the market. Failure to do so can put consumers at risk and damage the reputation of a company. In this case, the malfunctioning tailgates could potentially lead to accidents and harm both the driver and other motorists on the road.The safety concerns with the defective tailgates are especially concerning for those who frequently use their trucks for heavy-duty tasks. These vehicles are commonly used for work and transporting heavy loads, making it crucial for the tailgate to function properly and secure the cargo in place.If you own a heavy-duty truck from General

A grand total of 323,232 trucks are impacted: specifically, 128,966 are the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD models, while the remaining 194,266 belong to the GMC Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD line. These particular trucks were produced during the timeframe of September 8th, 2020 until May 16th, 2023.

The primary cause of this problem lies in the push-button power tailgate. Based on the safety recall notice released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the button on the exterior is not fully resistant to water, which could lead to water infiltration and potentially result in a short circuit.

When water comes into contact with an electrical system, it is definitely not a favorable situation. In this scenario, the back door of the car may unexpectedly open while the vehicle is stationary. This issue has been looked into by GM and they have received a total of 136 reports as of January 5, 2024, suggesting that the tailgate opens while the car is in motion.

Despite previous claims, the car manufacturer maintained that it was impossible to release the latch on the truck’s body control module while in gear. General Motors came to the conclusion that the unexpected release of the tailgate must have occurred while the vehicles were in Park, and the owners had failed to notice their tailgates were open before driving off.

The document detailing the recall has documented one accusation of slight injury and three instances of minor harm to property.

As a solution, GM is taking action to replace the exterior touchpad switch assemblies with a new material that provides greater resistance to water infiltration. The company has already informed dealers of the recall, and affected car owners will begin receiving notifications from the manufacturer on March 18, 2024.

In the meantime, GM recommends that owners of HD trucks make sure to regularly inspect and manually secure their tailgates before taking their vehicles out on the road. Moreover, if you happen to come across a truck with an open tailgate while driving, it would be wise to give the driver a quick honk as a courteous heads-up.