Today's vehicles have more electronics on them than ever, from cabin tech to powertrain controls. While these advances have made cars safer and more convenient and reliable for the most part, there can sometimes be unintended consequences when these sub-systems don't function as intended. Such is the case on General Motors' latest recall, which affects the Buick LaCrosse sedan, and Cadillac SRX crossover. A software glitch in the transmission programming could cause the transmission to switch to sport mode, which disables engine braking.
The Problem: 2013 Cadillac SRX crossovers built between May 29, 2012, and February 18, 2013, may be affected by a software malfunction that inadvertently changes the transmission to sport mode without driver input. This could unexpectedly disable the engine braking function the transmission has in normal operating mode, potentially increasing the risk of a crash.
The Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module of affected models at no charge. The recall campaign is expected to officially begin March 28, 2013. SRX owners can call 866/982-2339, or NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888/327-4236.
Number of Vehicles Potentially Affected: 26,582 Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac SRX models manufactured between May 29, 2012, and February 18, 2013.