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Why do Chevrolet brake lights and daytime running lights get recalled?
These five Chevrolet lighting recalls fall into three repeating problems. Two involve ambulances built on the Chevrolet G4500 chassis with Whelen brake lights that can illuminate when the brake pedal is not pressed, depending on how the vehicle was wired — one from Excellance on 2018 chassis, one from North Central on 2016-2018 remounts. Two more are daytime running light failures: on 2021 Tahoe, Suburban, Escalade and Yukon, and again on 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5, Buick Envision, 2022-2023 Silverado 1500, Tahoe and Suburban, the DRLs may not switch off when the headlights are on, failing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108. The fifth is an accessory sport bar on 2022 Silverado 1500 whose high-mounted brake light may not work or may block the truck's own.
Warning signs to watch for
- Brake lights that glow when nobody is pressing the brake pedal, on the ambulance chassis recalls.
- Oncoming drivers flashing you at night because the daytime running lights stay on with the headlights.
- The sport bar's high-mounted brake light does not light up, or the bar hides the factory one.
- Following drivers reacting late or tailgating because they cannot tell when you are braking.
Is it safe to keep driving?
No recall in this group tells you to stop driving or park outside, and none affects how the vehicle steers, brakes or accelerates. The risk is to the drivers around you. With the false brake lights on the G4500 ambulance chassis, traffic behind you gets confused signals; with the sport bar, a following driver may not see you braking at all, which raises the chance of being rear-ended. The daytime running light recalls can glare into oncoming drivers' eyes at night, so be especially careful after dark until the software update is installed.
What the free repair involves
All repairs are free. For the daytime running light recalls, the body control module software is reprogrammed — over the air on the 2021 full-size SUVs, and either at a dealer or over the air on the CT4, CT5, Envision and Silverado group. For the sport bar, the dealer inspects the installation and supplies correct wiring if needed. On the ambulances, Whelen brake lights are replaced.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| medium | 4 |
| low | 1 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-12-08 | Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, GMC: Daytime Running Lights Stay On | medium |
| 2022-11-03 | Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon and Escalade daytime running light glare | medium |
| 2022-06-30 | Silverado and Sierra sport bar blocks brake light | medium |
| 2019-04-10 | Chevrolet G4500 ambulance brake lights turn on by themselves | low |
| 2019-03-26 | Excellance ambulances: brake lights can turn on by themselves | medium |
Common questions
Can the daytime running light fix be done without a dealer visit?
Yes on both DRL recalls. The 2021 Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon and Escalade update is delivered over the air. The CT4, CT5, Envision, Silverado 1500 and full-size SUV recall can be done either over the air or by a dealer.
My truck has an accessory sport bar — is it the light or the bar that is wrong?
Either. On 2022 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500, the bar's own high-mounted brake light may not function, and the bar can also block the truck's factory high-mounted brake light. The dealer inspects the installation and provides correct wiring if it is needed.
Who do I call about the ambulance brake light recalls?
These come from the body builders, not Chevrolet. Excellance owners are instructed to contact Whelen to have the brake lights replaced free of charge. North Central Emergency Vehicles notifies its owners, and dealers replace the brake lights at no cost.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.