General Motors has issued a recall for over 323,000 heavy-duty pickup trucks in the United States due to a potential safety concern with the electronic tailgate release switches. The affected trucks, including certain models of Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 trucks spanning from 2020 to 2024, are at risk of experiencing a short circuit in the switches. This malfunction can lead to the tailgate unexpectedly opening while the vehicle is parked.

According to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, water infiltration into the switches is identified as the root cause of the issue. When the tailgate opens inadvertently while the truck is stationary, it poses several risks. Cargo stored in the truck bed could become unsecured and fall onto the road, potentially creating hazards for other motorists and increasing the likelihood of accidents.

General Motors is urging owners of the affected trucks to verify that their tailgate is securely closed and latched before operating the vehicle. To address the issue, dealerships will replace the exterior touchpad switch responsible for the tailgate release. Owners can expect to receive notification letters starting March 18, informing them of the recall and providing instructions on how to proceed.

In response to the safety concern, GM has instructed its dealerships to halt the sale of the affected vehicles until necessary repairs have been completed. The company has acknowledged receiving 136 complaints related to the unexpected opening of the tailgate, with one reported incident resulting in a minor injury and three incidents causing minor property damage.