Not Everything Is Holding Together
General Motors recently announced plans to prepare its Lansing Delta Township Assembly plant in Michigan for hybrid vehicle production, signaling a shift from its heavy focus on EVs. While the move could help the automaker better navigate the U.S. market in the years ahead, the plant has a more immediate problem to address: six vehicles it produced are being recalled over improperly welded seats.
The affected vehicles include three MY2026 GMC Acadias and three MY2026 Chevrolet Traverses. Four vehicles are being recalled in the U.S. under NHTSA recall number 26V696, while the remaining two are covered by a recall in Canada. Because the front seats in these vehicles may be improperly welded, they might not provide adequate support during a crash, increasing the risk of injury, even when occupants are wearing seatbelts.
GMC
Weak Link
According to NHTSA, the defect was discovered after the driver’s seatback frame in a 2026 Chevy Traverse was replaced in July 2026. GM’s supplier subsequently reviewed laser-welding data from more than 94,000 seat components and identified six additional suspect parts, all manufactured on November 3, 2025. The problem stemmed from insufficient welds, also known as cold welds.
The safety agency noted that GM is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue. The supplier has since revised its maintenance schedule and improved its weld inspection procedures to prevent similar defects from occurring.
As part of the remedy, affected owners will be advised to take their three-row midsize crossovers to dealerships for a seatback frame replacement, free of charge. Some affected vehicles have the problem with the driver’s seat, while others have it with the front passenger seat. NHTSA said that all covered vehicles are still under warranty, so a separate reimbursement program will not be offered.
Chevrolet
Getting Back Into Shape
GM will begin notifying affected U.S. owners on December 7, while VINs are already searchable in the recall database.
The Traverse and Acadia share GM’s C1 platform with the Buick Enclave, and all three are powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four producing 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque. With all three crossovers built at Lansing Delta Township Assembly, the plant’s upcoming shift toward hybrid production raises the possibility that these nameplates could be among the first to receive hybrid powertrains. However, the automaker has yet to confirm which models will be electrified first, leaving the Chevrolet Corvette as its sole hybrid offering stateside.
About the author
Rex Sanchez
News Editor