Grille parts still fly off top-selling GM truck, safety officials say

By Summer Ballentine, The Detroit News

Federal safety regulators are investigating reports of continued problems with grille parts flying off a top-selling General Motors Co. pickup truck.

At issue are some GMC Sierras from model years 2022-24. GM last year recalled grille deflectors on Sierra 1500 models with chrome grilles following complaints of the part falling off while driving.

Four accidents related to the issue were reported to GM, but there were no reported injuries.

In response, GM paid for dealers to reinforce or fix tension points where the grille deflector is attached to the front of trucks.

Since then, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received more than 100 additional complaints of the upper grille deflector detaching, including 21 reports of previously repaired deflectors falling off while driving.

Detached grille deflectors have cracked windshields and flown at nearby vehicles, forcing drivers to dodge falling parts, according to regulators.

Defect investigators are checking whether the repairs recommended by GM are enough to fix the issue.

“The safety and satisfaction of our customers are the highest priorities for the entire GM team,” GM spokesperson Bill Grotz said in a statement responding to the recall inquiry. “And we continue to cooperate with NHTSA’s evaluation of this matter.”

Only GMC Sierra 1500 models “with chrome grille deflectors produced after GM’s 2022 model year mid-cycle enhancement for the Sierra” were affected by the original recall, according to federal regulators.

Non-chrome grilles on the trucks were designed differently and have not had similar problems.

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