The GMC logo seen at a 2016 Pittsburgh auto show. General Motors is recalling more than 400,000 pickup trucks in the US because the side airbags can explode without warning and spit parts into the cabin. Gene J. Puskar / AP Hide caption
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Gen J. Puskar / AP
The GMC logo seen at a 2016 Pittsburgh auto show. General Motors is recalling more than 400,000 pickup trucks in the US because the side airbags can explode without warning and spit parts into the cabin.
Gen J. Puskar / AP
DETROIT – General Motors calls back more than 400,000 pickup trucks in the USA because the side airbags could explode without warning and spit parts into the cabin.
The recall affects certain 2015 and 2016 Chevrolet and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 trucks.
Documents released by U.S. security officials on Friday said the airbag inflator could burst or the end cap on either side of the truck could fly off. Documents state that three gas generators burst in 2015 in Silverados last month, one in Florida and two in Texas. All three trucks were unoccupied at the time, and GM says there have been no reports of injuries.
The company says that during manufacturing, a manufacturing defect caused moisture to penetrate the inflator and cause corrosion. The gas generators were manufactured in Mexico by Joyson Safety Systems.
Dealers will replace both side airbag modules. The company claims that it has a limited number of spare parts available. Owners will be notified starting August 16 and will receive a second letter when parts are widely available.
About 9,000 of the trucks were recalled last year because of the same problem.