GM recalls more than 83,000 trucks and SUVs for faulty ignition parts

General Motors issued a recall of more than 83,000 vehicles just before the New Year began, citing faulty ignition switches.

According to a report from the USA Today, the Detroit-based auto company had been struggling with ignition-related problems for much of 2014. The latest safety recall spans 83,572 SUVs and trucks, including models of the Chevy Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, and Avalanche, as well as the GMC Sierra and Yukon and the Cadillac Escalade.

Most of the issues should be isolated amongst those models, though GM also warned the some vehicles that had ignition-related repairs done may also have issues. Some 2007-2014 model cars, GM says, may have been repaired with the faulty ignition parts.

All told, General Motors estimates that only about 500 vehicles will need repairs or replacements. In 2013, the company initiated a similar recall for small cars, after faulty ignition switches in the company’s cars were linked to at least 42 deaths.

Specifically, GM says that there is an issue with the ignition lock actuator that sometimes makes the key difficult to turn, or causes the ignition to get stuck in what is called “start position.” In this state, the ignition is at risk for switching suddenly to the “accessory position,” which can in turn result in the engine shutting off and the car losing steering or braking power. This issue can also cause the airbags to no deploy, in case of a crash.

GM’s recall of Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac models closed out a rough year for GM, and for the auto industry in general. According to a report from the New York Times, the auto industry recalled more cars in 2014 than ever before. The final number was about 60 million recalled vehicles, 700 total recall announcements, and a tumultuous series of automotive recalls that impacted one in every five vehicles on the road. GM led the way, recalling 27 million vehicles total.

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