A growing number of GM owners claim their new SUVs and trucks have a troubling defect still unresolved
A new lawsuit has put General Motors back in the spotlight, but this time it’s not about an old recall or aging model. Instead, the plaintiffs say that some of the automaker’s 2025 trucks and SUVs have brakes that can fail.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, it covers owners of the Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Colorado, and GMC Canyon.
Braking Point
According to the lawsuit, the issue can appear soon after delivery, with warning lights and messages in the dashboard such as “Brake,” “Service Brake System,” and “ABS Fault” popping up before drivers experience reduced or complete brake failure. Some owners say the pedal feels stiff or, conversely, sinks to the floor entirely.
More: GM Has A Fix For Colorado And Canyon Roofs Dented By Car Washes
Two Traverse owners claimed that their master cylinders failed while driving. GM replaced the components under warranty, but both argue the automaker failed to fix the issue within a reasonable time and never issued a formal recall.
The suit claims GM sold vehicles it allegedly knew contained faulty equipment, choosing not to notify customers about the risk.
Real-World Evidence
While the filing doesn’t describe the precise reason for the master cylinder failure, it says that such parts aren’t wear-and-tear items. As a result of the alleged issue, plaintiffs say their vehicles are worth less. It’s one thing to see how individuals in a lawsuit speak of an issue and another to see public complaints. Thankfully, the NHTSA.gov website is rife with those.
One of the latest complaints on the government website concerns a 2025 GMC Acadia Denali. The owner described a long trip from Omaha, Nebraska, to Laurie, Missouri, that ended in multiple brake warnings and a long stay at the dealership. The complaint reads as follows:
“While driving my 2025 GMC Acadia Denali on [XXX], from Omaha, NE, to Laurie, MO, I received a “Service Brake Assist” warning lamp as well as “Check Engine” and “ABS” warning lamps in St. Joseph, MO. At this point, my vehicle had 6,945 miles on it. We turned around and went back to Omaha. We dropped the car with Gregg Young Chevrolet at 7,095 miles.
The dealership identified the issue as EBCM and master cylinder assembly failure. It replaced the EBCM and master cylinder assembly, test drove the car 7 miles and told me my Acadia was ready to go. I did not make it out of the dealership parking lot before the “Service Brake Assist” and “Check Engine” lights came on again. The dealership again identified master cylinder assembly failure, again replaced said assembly, test drove it 10 miles this time and told me my Acadia was ready to go.
I got my Acadia and made it 1.1 miles before the “Service Brake Assist” light again came on. I promptly returned my Acadia to the dealership, where it sits today. At the date I am typing this (9/14/25), the dealership has had my Acadia since 8/22/25. The master cylinder has now failed 3 times at this point.
First, after 6,945 miles, second after 7 miles, third after 11 miles. The safety of myself and my family was put at risk by the potential failure of my brake system. This should not happen on a brand new car with less than 7K miles and darn sure not 3 times in a row! Yes, the problem has been confirmed by the dealer 3 times.”
Waiting For Answers
It’s rare to see just one customer who seemingly exemplifies a plaintiff group on their own, but this one seems to do exactly that. For the time being, GM hasn’t issued a recall on the vehicles in question. It hasn’t commented on the lawsuit either.
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Stephen, affectionately known as Rivers, has gracefully transitioned from being a repair shop manager and… Read full bio
