GM Says Safety Glitch in 2014 Chevrolet Silverado is 'Inconsequential'

In an attempt to avoid a recall, General Motors has said to federal safety regulators that a supposed electronic glitch issue with two vehicles is "inconsequential" and "extremely unlikely to occur."

Approximately 200,921 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks are at risk of being recalled, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The issue can occur when a driver is looking for a song with the steering-wheel controls.

In certain cases, the instrument cluster can reset.

GM filed a "noncompliance petition" asking the NHTSA to determine that the trucks don't need to be recalled since the problem "is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety."

A petition was posted recently on NHTSA's website and in the Federal Register. Drivers can comment until March 26.

"When the instrument cluster resets, the analog gauges and identifications, the PRNDM (shift position) indicator, and the cruise control telltale will briefly turn off," the petition reads. "In addition, some of the instrument cluster telltales may also illuminate briefly without the condition the telltale is designed to indicate being present."

Affected vehicles were built between January 29, 2013 and October 28, 2013.

GM said that when a driver uses the steering-wheel controls to look for and choose songs to play from an external device, like an iPod, which is plugged into one of the vehicle's USB ports, the cluster could reset.

"While the operation of the instrument panel is briefly affected by the underlying condition, none of the other vehicle operations are affected" and that "other operations, like cruise control, are unaffected by the subject condition," reads the petition. 

"If the condition were to occur, it is unlikely the brief disruption of the PRNDM will affect the driver."

GM said it is aware of only two incidents of the issue occurring.