GM recalls select 2011 model year pickup and SUV models over axle fears

2011 GMC Sierra – Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors is recalling a handful light-duty GMT900 pickups from the 2011 model year due to faulty rear axle cross pins. Both the Chevrolet Avalanche and Silverado 1500 are subject to the action, as are the Cadillac Escalade EXT and GMC Sierra 1500 – a total of 1,262 vehicles in all.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cites that these rear axle cross pins were not manufactured up to proper specification and that the pin could "fracture and become displaced within the rear axle." NHTSA further details the consequences of a displaced pin, saying:

"The driver may hear a banging noise coming from the axle. If the pin shifts out of position, it could create an interference condition and cause the rear axle to lock. The driver may not be able to maintain directional control of the vehicle and a crash could occur without prior warning."

GM will begin notifying owners about this problem in January, and dealers will install a new rear axle cross pin without any cost to the customer. NHTSA's official statement is available after the jump.

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]

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Vehicle Make / Model:

CADILLAC / ESCALADE
CHEVROLET / AVALANCHE 1500
CHEVROLET / SILVERADO 1500
GMC / SIERRA 1500

Model Year(s): 2011
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Mfr's Report Date: DEC 17, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V643000
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE
Potential Number of Units Affected: 1,262

Summary

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT, CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO LD AND GMC SIERRA LD VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE REAR AXLE CROSS PIN WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE PIN WAS IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE.

Consequence

THE DRIVER MAY HEAR A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE AXLE. IF THE PIN SHIFTS OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK. THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Notes

GM SAFETY RECALL NO. 100426. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .