GM recalls +132k heavy-duty pickup trucks to fix sudden tailgate unlatching issue

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is recalling 132,037 heavy-duty pickup trucks in the U.S. for being equipped with power-unlatching tailgates, which could possibly lead to a road accident.

“Under certain circumstances, the tailgate design permits water to intrude into the gate, which, in combination with an unsealed switch, can result in a short circuit. Customers may notice the tailgate has inadvertently opened,” the safety recall report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

The report said 66,669 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 heavy-duty vehicles and 65,368 GMC Sierra 2500/3500 heavy-duty vehicles were affected by the recall.

The company said in the NHTSA report that it is aware of 237 field complaints of an unwanted tailgate opening while driving, which were received between September 22, 2023, and September 3, 2024.

“The gate may inadvertently unlatch while the vehicle is in Park. If the driver does not manually close the gate before beginning a drive, cargo in the bed of the truck may exit the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash,” the recall report said.

The company said it is not aware of any alleged crashes or injuries associated with this issue and will fix it by replacing the exterior touchpad switch assemblies.

Vehicle owners will be notified about the recall schedule to fix the issue on Jan 13.