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General Motors is recalling 60,000 small Buick and Chevrolet crossovers because a software glitch can cause their instrument panels to go blank. The intermittent problem can happen while the vehicles are being driven. The problem primarily affects 2024 Chevrolet Trax models but can also affect some 2024 Buick Encore GX and Envista models. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “If the instrument panel display blacks out while driving, it may cause unnecessary diversion of the driver’s attention, increasing the risk of a crash.”
These Vehicles are Being Recalled
- 35,186 Chevrolet Trax vehicles
- 17,306 Buick Encore GX vehicles
- 6,289 Buick Envista vehicles
How GM Determined There Was a Problem
On August 17, 2023, GM’s Safety and Field Action Decision Authority (SFADA) decided to issue a service update bulletin to update the VCU software in certain 2024 Buick Encore GX, Envista, and Chevrolet Trax vehicles. VCU stands for Virtual Cockpit Unit Module. The plan was to correct an issue where the VCU software could, on rare occasions, cause the instrument panel display to go all black. Officials decided it was better to do a recall than a service update.
GM is aware of 255 complaints globally (out of 75,677 vehicles) of instrument panel blackout received from May 12, 2023 to September 25, 2023. GM is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with this problem.
How GM Will Fix the Problem
According to the NHTSA Safety Recall Report, General Motors will update the software in the vehicles’ Virtual Cockpit Unit Module (VCU) to correct the condition. Owners will have the opportunity to accept these software changes using wireless over-the-air (OTA) technology without having to bring their vehicle to a dealership. Owners who want to can schedule to have the updates performed at a GM dealer. All of the affected vehicles are still under warranty.
Dealers will be notified on November 6, 2023. Owners should start to receive letters about the recall after December 22, 2023. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A232424320.
Chevrolet Photo
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.
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