GM recalling Chevrolet Sonics to check brake pads

Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:29 AM EST

us-news, business, us, gm, recall, sonic, chevrolet-sonic

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2011 photo made available by General Motors Co., a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic sedan is driven around the test track at the GM Milford Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan. General Motors Co. said on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, that it is recalling more than 4,000 of its 2012 Chevrolet Sonic subcompact cars to check for missing brake pads. (AP Photo/GM, John F. Martin, File)

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DETROIT — General Motors Co. said on Friday that it is recalling more than 4,000 of its 2012 Chevrolet Sonic subcompact cars to check for missing brake pads.

The possibility that some Sonics could be missing an inner or outer brake pad was discovered during warranty service for a rental vehicle customer. GM said the problem "is expected to exist in very few cars," and there are no known crashes or injuries related to the issue. A missing pad could require longer stopping distance, and contribute to a crash.

The recall involves 4,296 of GM's 2012 Sonics sold in the U.S. The affected models are from the Orion Township, Mich., assembly plant, where the Sonic is built for sale in the U.S. and Canada.

Dealers will inspect the front brakes for missing inner or outer pads and, if a pad is missing, install new pads. If needed, a new brake caliper or brake rotor, or both, will also be installed. Affected customers will receive dealer letters beginning Jan. 14.

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Public Discussion (18)

Gary Locke

Ya would of thought that a missing brake pad is gonna make a little noise?

1 vote

#1 - Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:26 AM EST

Fufu

How the hell do you let a single car off the assembly line with a missing brake pad?

2 votes

#2 - Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:28 AM EST

greg m-1174186

Yeah Union.

No one will be fired over that for sleeping on the job

4 votes

#3 - Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:56 AM EST

photobiker

And now the UAW is targeting the new Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga.

2 votes

#3.1 - Fri Dec 30, 2011 3:02 PM EST

Fred Evil

What's a CHEVY Sonic? I thought he was a hedgehog?

1 vote

#4 - Fri Dec 30, 2011 12:13 PM EST

My Views are Mine

So, never heard of the Chevy Sonic...and I work in a car garage...interesting. And how the hell do you build a car with no pads?!

3 votes

#5 - Fri Dec 30, 2011 12:16 PM EST

Fred Evil

Seriously, how did they even get to the showroom, without someone saying, "Hey, dude...what's that awful SOUND?"

1 vote

#5.1 - Fri Dec 30, 2011 12:32 PM EST

justaguy-1286185

I'd like to have seen the look on the guys face when he took the tire off a (brand new!) rental car and finds no brake pads.

#6 - Fri Dec 30, 2011 12:51 PM EST

pacosperson

I Checked and found the car is not imported, it's made in Michigan. The article says so but I found it hard to believe. The UAW workers took a pay cut to keep the jobs here. So now we simply need to learn if brakes are an added option, 'at additional cost', or someone in the union is making a point.

Record keeping is good. They should be able to trace this back to an exact time. A lot of people had to have driven these cars. Out of the plant, onto the transport, off the transport into the holding lot, onto the car carrier, off the car carrier, spotted on the dealers lot. How disconnected are those people?

The price is $25,000 lower than a Volt.

2 votes

#7 - Fri Dec 30, 2011 1:05 PM EST

nospin1

Union craftsmanship at its best.

2 votes

#8 - Fri Dec 30, 2011 1:14 PM EST

Converse-1534154

It may not be some union slacker that's to blame. There are other explanations. Management might have handed the guy on the line a bunch of cheap parts that didn't fit or fell out after they were put in. Do you think the plant manager is going to shut down an assembly line for a month while they wait for some good parts ?

#9 - Fri Dec 30, 2011 1:41 PM EST

cannonballer

A month? It shouldnt take that long to get a shipment from Mexico to Michigan.

1 vote

#9.1 - Fri Dec 30, 2011 1:53 PM EST

nospin1

Converse - You are grasping at straws. The brakes were missing and the person responsible for insuring they were put on is at fault unless they spoke up and were ignored. And if that is the case, that person let the car go without brakes so that is still on the same person. Whoever this person is is the responsible so go peddle your union support and management hatred elsewhere.

1 vote

#9.2 - Fri Dec 30, 2011 7:57 PM EST

Converse-1534154

Management hatred - yeah I'll give you that. Union support - nope.

As close as I ever got to joining a union was at a factory. After you did ninety days as a trial grunt you were expected to join the union. The way this deal worked out was that you would get a slight increase in pay amounting to about to twelve bucks a week and the union dues were fifteen bucks a week.

I got in the union reps face and told him his union sucked. My time card disappeared and they let me know that if I didn't leave I'd be toast. Point being, I'm not a union cheerleader.

Grabbing at straws- Yep. We're both taking sides based on speculation. We really don't know what happened.

As long as we're speculating, this might be bad engineering and this is just GM's cover story in which case there will be chronic problems with the front brakes. Time will tell.

#9.3 - Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:42 AM EST

nospin1

There is no speculation, the brake pads were not installed which is what the person was paid to do.

#9.4 - Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:05 PM EST

Converse-1534154

I've been doing some research on this. The brake assemblies are made in South Korea and some of the brake pads fell out before they got to Michigan. I suppose you could still blame the UAW for not checking.

#9.5 - Sun Jan 1, 2012 12:48 AM EST

buckeyenut-2225921

I don't think I've ever heard of a non union made car coming without brake pads. Impressive QC they've got in that plant. What's next a steering column not attached?

Brakes? we don't need no stinkin brakes!

2 votes

#10 - Fri Dec 30, 2011 2:38 PM EST

Dean Moriarty

Another butt ugly car from government motors.

1 vote

GM recalling Chevrolet Sonics to check brake pads

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