The defect
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 18, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 6, 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM" (TPMS). THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO ILLUMINATE THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WHEN THE PRESSURE IN A TIRE IS 25% BELOW THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE PRESSURE. ON THESE VEHICLES, THE LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL THE TIRE PRESSURE IS MORE THAN 25% BELOW THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE PRESSURE.
The risk
UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN RESULT IN TIRE OVERLOADING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT AND POSSIBLE CRASH. THE RESULTING CRASH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN ALSO RESULT IN PREMATURE OR IRREGULAR WEAR, POOR HANDLING, AND POOR FUEL ECONOMY.
The remedy
GM DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 9, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Equinox | 2012 |
| GMC Terrain | 2012 |
Components: TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Equinox | 2012 | 685 | 3 |
| GMC Terrain | 2012 | 364 | 4 |
Other tires recalls in 2011
7 of the 597 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2011 concerned the tires; GENERAL MOTORS LLC filed 28 campaigns in all.
| 11V493000 3 Oct 2011 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. |
| 11V313000 8 Jun 2011 | KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A. |
| 11V312000 6 Jun 2011 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
| 11V278000 12 May 2011 | SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, LLC |
| 11V185000 16 Mar 2011 | GULF STATES TOYOTA, INC. |
| 11V148000 4 Mar 2011 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2011