General Motors has issued a product defect recall for nearly 150,000 Buick and Chevrolet SUVs because these vehicles’ emergency spare tire jacks may break when used. According to Consumer Reports, if the tire jacks break while a car is lifted, the vehicle could collapse, causing serious injuries to anyone near or under it. So far, GM has been notified of one injury caused by this product defect.
Details of the Recall
The recall includes Buick Encore GX and Chevy Trailblazer SUVs and is expected to begin in late July. Until the jack is replaced, GM says vehicle owners should contact the Chevrolet Roadside Assistance Center at 800-243-8872 or the Buick Roadside Assistance Center at 800-252-1112 instead of trying to change a tire using the emergency jack.
Because there is a shortage of replacement parts, new vehicles affected by this recall may be sold without an emergency jack, with a replacement to be provided to owners later. The emergency jack could fail if it is not properly positioned, as a GM engineer found when a jack broke during durability testing of a 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer in March 2021.
After investigating the failure, the automaker discovered that the jack had been wrongly positioned. The automaker said it had identified 21 reports of emergency jack failures in these vehicles.
Product Liability Issues
Defective tire jacks can result in catastrophic injuries or even fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that more than 10,000 people seriously injure themselves each year using a car jack or similar hoist.
A National Center for Statistics and Analysis study showed that about 40% of car jack failures occurred when the vehicle was partially lifted for tire changes. About 18% of these failures were linked to pressure loss in the jack, which means it could not support the vehicle. Some common injuries reported in these types of car jack failures include amputations, fractures, and internal organ damage.
When these types of products fail, causing serious injury or death, the manufacturer of the faulty device can be held liable for the resulting injuries, damages, and losses.
Injured victims can seek compensation for damages, including medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, pain and suffering and emotional distress. An experienced product defect lawyer can advise injured victims and their families regarding their legal rights and options.
Brian Chase
Articles, blogs, and content have been reviewed by legal in-house staff. Brian Chase is the managing partner of Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP. He is the lead trial lawyer and oversees cases handling dangerous and defective products that injure consumers. Brian is a top-rated injury attorney with numerous legal honors and awards for his work relating to auto defects and dangerous products. His firm has recovered over $1B for its clients. Brian is a frequent speaker for CAOC, Dordick Trial College, and OCTLA, covering personal injury trial techniques.
