General Motors recalls 700,000 SUVs in the US due to potentially deadly defect

General Motors recalls 700,000 SUVs in the US due to potentially deadly defect that prevents children’s car seats from being strapped in securely

General Motors is recalling hundreds of thousands of SUVs due to concerns they pose lethal dangers to children.

The American carmaker issued a voluntary recall for more than 680,000 2020 to 2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain SUVs.

The issue is a defect with the rear-seat lower anchor bars being excessively coated with powder, preventing a car seat from strapping in properly.

Owners are advised to install child seats using the vehicle’s rear seat belts until the remedy is complete.

GM has said no issues have been reported but is recalling the vehicles to ensure none happen in the future.

In 1999, NHTS issued a safety standard for child restraint anchorage systems that ‘requires all new passenger vehicles to have child restraint anchorage systems meeting specified strength, configuration, marking, and other requirements,’ reads the agency’s website.

Called Standard No. 225, NHTS mandates that child restraint anchorage systems provide at least a minimum level of safety.

GM’s supplier, Amvian Mexico, did not monitor the variation of powder coat applied to the anchorages, Jalopnik reports.

The mistake resulted in bars of 6.34 and 6.41 millimeters when the standard calls for no more than six millimeters.