Federal probe into GM brake failures hits highest level – Northeast Times

The federal government is expanding a safety investigation into General Motors vehicles after hundreds of reports that a brake-by-wire system can fail without warning, leaving drivers with no way to stop. More than 1.1 million cars may be affected, including several of GM’s electric vehicles and models it built for Honda and Acura.
If you drive a Chevy Equinox EV, a Honda Prologue or a Cadillac Lyriq, this one is worth your attention. The problem centers on a system GM calls eBoost. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration just ratcheted up its probe to the most serious level before a potential recall.
GM introduced eBoost in 2019 and gradually rolled it out across its lineup. TechCrunch reported that the system replaces the traditional mechanical link between the brake pedal and the braking hardware with an electronic one, letting GM adjust the brake feel for different driving modes. It now sits inside a long list of models: the 2023 through 2026 Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon; the 2024 through 2026 Buick Enclave, Buick Envision, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Chevrolet Equinox EV, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, Acura ZDX and Honda Prologue; and the 2025 through 2026 Cadillac Celestiq and Optiq. The now-abandoned Cruise Origin autonomous vehicle also used the system.
The trouble is a spindle fracture inside the eBoost unit. GM says that when the spindle breaks, the car should still retain antilock brakes, traction control and stability control at least until it comes to a complete stop. But NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation says many reports contradict that description. Drivers have reported an immediate loss of brake assist while actively trying to slow down, which the agency said could result in extended braking distances and a higher risk of crashes.
NHTSA has received 227 incident reports directly. That number climbs to 745 when you include occurrences reported to GM. Twenty-two cases resulted in crashes, six people have been injured in five of those crashes, and there have been no fatal incidents so far.
Some of the individual reports are harrowing. One driver of a 2025 Lyriq told NHTSA they lost brakes while pulling into a parking space in front of a store. The vehicle jumped the curb and crashed through the storefront, coming to rest mid-way inside, surrounded by furniture and debris. Another driver, in a 2024 Blazer EV, said they had to deliberately steer into a concrete curb to slow down and avoid what they called a catastrophic intersection collision.
NHTSA first opened its probe in April 2024 after complaints from owners of 2023 model year Cadillac Lyriqs, who typically described receiving a “Brake System Failure” message when starting the vehicle or after coming to a complete stop. GM performed several internal investigations and concluded the issue was tied to the spindle fracture.
On Monday, ODI announced it was upgrading the probe to an engineering analysis, the highest level of investigation the office conducts. That step often precedes an order for a company to issue a recall.
“The safety of our customers is the highest priority for the entire GM team. We take these reports seriously and have conducted a thorough investigation, determining the alleged condition does not present an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety. We will continue to cooperate with NHTSA as its investigation proceeds.”
GM released that statement after the upgrade was announced.
Owners of affected vehicles can file their own complaints with NHTSA and should watch for any recall notices in the coming months.
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