General Motors (GM) has announced a recall affecting 461,839 diesel vehicles due to a concern involving the transmission that can potentially affect the functionality of the rear wheels, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The NHTSA’s recall announcement, made public on Wednesday, indicated that the transmission valve might wear out over time, which could lead to the rear wheels locking up and increasing the likelihood of a crash.

The 24 models from 2020 to 2022 affected by this recall include various GMC trucks and SUVs as well as several models from Chevrolet and Cadillac.

An investigation by GM, which was revealed by the NHTSA, discovered that there were reports of similar rear wheel issues dating back to 2020, including a few cases of minor injuries. In addition to the recall, GM has also paused the delivery of these vehicles.

Here’s what you need to know regarding this GM recall.

Which GM vehicles are involved in the recall?

• Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 (2020-2022)
• GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, and 3500 (2020-2022)
• Cadillac Escalade (2021)
• Cadillac Escalade ESV (2021)
• Chevrolet Tahoe (2021)
• Chevrolet Suburban (2021)
• GMC Yukon (2021)
• GMC Yukon XL (2021)

Details on the transmission issue

The NHTSA specifies that this recall is relevant only for diesel engine vehicles. The transmission control valve in certain affected cars may wear down over time, which could result in a fluid leak and a drop in pressure. This situation can lead to rough shifting or even lock-up of the rear wheels. Drivers might experience that rough shifting before any wheel lock-up occurs.

Reports from customers dating back to January 2020 led to an investigation into this issue starting in July 2024. GM identified 1,888 reports concerning possible wheel lock-ups tied to this defect. Furthermore, 11 incidents were found, some of which resulted in vehicles going off the road, minor property damage, and three cases of minor injuries.

What steps should you take to fix your vehicle?

Dealers will provide new transmission control module software free of charge, designed to monitor valve performance and detect excessive wear approximately 10,000 miles before a lock-up situation could happen. If wear is noted, the system will shift gears to prevent the lock-up occurrence, and a service engine light along with a reduced propulsion message will be displayed.

GM will also initiate a special program for repairing transmissions identified by the software as having defective control valves.

Owners of affected vehicles will be informed via mail. Additionally, they can reach out to GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 with the recall identification number N242454440.