About 43,732 full-size SUVs have been recalled by General Motors due to an issue in the 10-speed automatic transmission. According to them, a transmission control valve in the affected models may have been exposed to excessive wear, causing fluid leakage that could lead to loss of power.
According to the document filled with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the 43,732 full-size SUVs are from the 2022 model year and include:
| Make & Model | Production Start | Production End | Units Involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Tahoe | May 10, 2022 | Jul 19, 2022 | 17,178 |
| Chevrolet Suburban | May 10, 2022 | Jul 19, 2022 | 7,616 |
| GMC Yukon (Short Wheelbase) | May 10, 2022 | Jul 19, 2022 | 7,820 |
| GMC Yukon XL (Long Wheelbase) | May 10, 2022 | Jul 19, 2022 | 5,720 |
| Cadillac Escalade | Mar 17, 2022 | Jul 19, 2022 | 3,609 |
| Cadillac Escalade ESV | May 10, 2022 | Jul 19, 2022 | 2,239 |
The control valves’ excessive wear in the 10-speed Automatic transmission can cause fluid leakage that leads to loss of pressure, causing the valve to move unexpectedly. These movements and the loss of pressure could cause the transmission to shift harshly or, in some cases, the control valve defect could lead to rear wheels locking up momentarily or permanently. The rear wheel lockup occurs in the moment that the transmission attempts to downshift from eight gears.
Dealers will install new transmission control module (TCM) software that will monitor valve performance and be able to detect excess wear approximately 10,000 miles before the wheel lockup could occur. If the software automatically detects valve wear, the transmission will be limited to fifth gear, thus preventing the possibility of a wheel lockup. Also, a service engine light and reduced propulsion message will show up in the instrumental panel.
To identify if or when the recall conditions were corrected, you can search on the NHTSA recall website here. For the 2023 model year and the latter Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles, new transmission control software was built that detects excessive wear. Owners are expected to receive notification letters, which will be sent out on March 30.
