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Safety recall · 21V496000

Equipment: engine block heater Chevrolet, GMC recall

General Motors reported this recall to NHTSA on July 1, 2021. It covers about 338,020 vehicles across 12 model years listed below. The repair is free.

Campaign
21V496000
Reported
Jul 1, 2021
Vehicles
338,020
Area
Equipment & accessories

The problem

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500 and 2017-2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with a Duramax diesel 6.6 liter engine and an optional engine-block heater cord. An electrical short-circuit may occur in the engine-block heater cable or in the terminals that connect the heater cable to the block heater.

The risk

An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

The fix

Dealers will replace engine block heaters and heater cords. Vehicles that have this feature disabled as a remedy to the safety condition will be contacted and offered replacement block heaters and heater cords under a separate customer satisfaction program, free of charge. GM will provide free replacement block heaters and cords under a separate customer satisfaction campaign. For vehicles previously included in recall 19V-328, the heater cord will be replaced and rerouted, free of charge. Interim owner notifications were mailed on August 13, 2021. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 4, 2022. Customers may call GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 212329840.

Contacts

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

What to do

  1. Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
  2. Call a dealer. Any authorized Chevrolet, GMC dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 21V496000.
  3. Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
  4. Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.

Vehicles covered

Questions

Is the 21V496000 recall repair free?

Yes. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix safety recalls free of charge. General Motors's dealers do the work; the remedy is described above.

How do I know if my vehicle is part of recall 21V496000?

Not every vehicle of a listed model year is included. Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or call a dealer with your VIN.

When was recall 21V496000 announced?

General Motors reported it to NHTSA on July 1, 2021. Owners are usually notified by mail within about two months.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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