GMC is recalling more than 70,000 newer pickup trucks in the U.S. because part of the trim around the grille is at risk of coming loose and flying off at speed. It’s unclear how many vehicles are affected in Canada. Specifically, the safety campaign covers 70,768 examples of 2022-model-year GMC Sierras after that model had got a mid-year facelift, and more specifically only examples with the chrome-plated grille.
On some of these trucks, several or all of the eight fasteners holding in place the “grille surround” – the upper piece of trim that sits on top of the grille – could fracture. As this happens, the piece may get noticeably looser and begin to rattle, and of course if all eight retainer clips break, the piece risks flying off while driving, and possibly striking other cars.
General Motors initially began an investigation into the problem in early 2024, after an employee passed on a customer complaint, but then dropped it. It resumed its look into the defect in December that year, opening a new investigation, after another owner posted on reddit in May about their truck’s upper grille trim detaching.
In the end, GM managed to compile some 1,225 field complaints tied to the problem, at least four of which led to some sort of collision after the piece flew off; in none of those cases were there any injuries. GM is still sorting out a remedy for the problem, and is ordering a stop-sale on affected models. While the grille deflector looks like a separate piece – and you’d think the fix would involve buying a new one with improved fasteners – owners on that reddit thread allege you have to buy an entire new grille to get that one bit of trim.
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