GM Recalls 67,380 EVs Over Software That Can Cut Braking

What exactly is the GM EV recall about?

A software glitch in the brake system control module (BSCM) can cause a temporary loss of braking while driving under certain conditions, according to the NHTSA report. GM says the problem is limited to all-wheel-drive versions of the affected models.

The recall covers 67,380 vehicles in the US. The headline act is the 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV, but three Cadillac models are also on the list: the Lyriq, Vistiq and Celestiq. All are electric, all are all-wheel drive, and all share the same brake-control software path.

GM is aware of 20 minor incidents tied to the glitch. Two of those resulted in minor injuries. Every reported case happened at low speed, which is the one piece of good news in an otherwise uncomfortable story about brakes failing on a car you're actively driving.

This is not a mechanical failure. There's no bad master cylinder or worn pad to blame. The module that decides how much brake pressure to apply can, under certain conditions, briefly stop doing its job. That distinction matters for how the fix works.

GM EV brake software recall: key facts

The fix is a download, not a workshop visit

GM says the software can be patched over the air or at a dealer, free of charge. Owners will get a letter in the mail, and VINs can be checked on the NHTSA website.

This is where modern EVs earn their keep. A brake-control bug that would once have meant a flatbed and a week in the shop can now be corrected with an OTA update while the car sits in your driveway. GM hasn't said how long the update takes to install, but the owner action is minimal: accept the update, or book a dealer visit if you'd rather have a technician do it.

The recall notice also flags a second, separate campaign: 12,000 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans are being recalled because of a loose steering gear assembly nut, which may require replacing the steering gear assembly. That one is mechanical, and it's the kind of recall that actually costs workshop time.

Why a temporary brake loss is still a serious recall

A momentary loss of braking at low speed is unlikely to make headlines the way a battery fire does, but brakes are the one system drivers assume will always work.

The incidents GM knows about were minor, and the speeds were low. That's the sort of detail that can make a recall sound smaller than it is. But brakes are not a convenience feature. A driver who presses the pedal and gets nothing, even for a second, loses trust in the car, and that trust is hard to win back.

The broader pattern here is worth watching. As cars become software platforms, the failure modes change. A bug in a brake module is not a bug in an infotainment screen. Automakers are getting better at shipping fixes over the air, but the same connectivity that makes fixes easy also means safety-critical code is being updated in the field, which puts more weight on validation before release.

For GM, this lands at an awkward time. The company is leaning hard on its Ultium-based EVs to win over mainstream buyers, and a brake recall on the Blazer EV and Cadillac's electric lineup is exactly the kind of story that gives EV skeptics ammunition. It also comes as rivals push aggressive new models, from Hyundai's £18,495 Ioniq 3 to Ford's sub-$30,000 Fathom, raising the stakes for every brand's safety record.

What it means for US owners

The recall is US-specific: 67,380 vehicles, all sold in the American market. Owners of an affected 2025 Blazer EV or a Cadillac Lyriq, Vistiq or Celestiq should get a letter in the mail, but you don't have to wait for it. Plug your VIN into the NHTSA recall lookup, or call Chevrolet or Cadillac customer service to confirm whether your car is on the list.

The repair costs nothing. If your car is eligible, the OTA update should arrive without a dealer trip; if you'd rather not rely on the download, any franchised dealer can apply it. GM hasn't said whether the same software is used in markets outside the US, so owners elsewhere should check with their local dealer.

A brake bug is never a small story, even when the fix is a download. GM's recall is a useful test case for how the industry handles safety-critical software: fast, free and over the air is the right answer, but the 20 incidents that triggered it are a reminder that the code running your brakes deserves the same scrutiny as the hardware.