General Motors (GM) is under a preliminary investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) due to reports of engine failure in over 870,000 vehicles, reported Reuters.
The probe by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation aims to determine the scope and severity of the alleged defects.
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Complainants have reported bearing failures that could lead to engine seizure or a breach in the engine block, posing a significant safety risk.
The regulator received 39 complaints and several early warning reporting field reports from GM vehicle owners.
NHTSA stated that complainants reported “no warning before the engine failure,” which increases the risk of crashes that could cause injury or property damage, reported Associated Press (AP).
The regulator’s inquiry encompasses various trucks and SUVs from model years 2019-2024, all equipped with the L87 V8 engine.
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By GlobalDataThe models under scrutiny include the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Escalade ESV, according to the publication.
The NHTSA report noted that no crashes or fires have been reported.
The preliminary evaluation is intended to thoroughly assess the potential safety-related issues.
In response to the probe, GM has expressed its intention to fully cooperate with the NHTSA.
In July, GM agreed to pay a $145.8m penalty following a US government investigation that revealed excess emissions from approximately 5.9 million GM vehicles.
The automaker also agreed to forfeit credits worth hundreds of millions of dollars and cancel over 30.6 million fuel economy credits for the 2008-2010 model years, as part of the resolution with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) light-duty vehicle in-use testing programme.
