2007 Chevrolet Express 1500, 2007 GMC Savana 1500 Recall: CERTAIN VANS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE…

The defect

CERTAIN VANS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE STOP LAMPS WILL ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED, THE STOP LAMPS ARE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED BUT THE REAR BRAKES MAY STILL BE APPLIED. THE BRAKE MAY RELEASE AFTER A FEW SECONDS OR AFTER THE NEXT FIRM BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION.

The risk

IF THE REAR BRAKES ARE STILL APPLIED AFTER RELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE A SUBSTANTIAL DRAG WHEN DRIVING AND MAY NEED TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL FURTHER THAN USUAL TO CONTINUE VEHICLE MOVEMENT. A VEHICLE DRIVEN WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED CAN CAUSE OVERHEATING OF THE BRAKES, RESULTING IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

The fix — what to do

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS SYSTEM MODULE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9643.

GM RECALL NO. 07177.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.