General Motors' electric lineup is under closer examination by the U.S. auto safety regulator after a growing number of brake-related complaints, including more than 20 crashes or fires and at least six injuries. The review also covers some gasoline models, with more than 1 million vehicles potentially involved.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began looking into the issue in April 2024 after reports from owners of 2023 Cadillac Lyriq vehicles. Its Office of Defects Investigation has now moved the case into an engineering analysis, the agency's most advanced review stage and a common step before a possible recall decision.
According to investigators, some drivers saw a "Brake System Failure" warning at startup or after stopping. GM said its internal reviews linked the issue to fractures in the spindle of the eBoost brake-by-wire system. However, the agency says newer complaints point to sudden brake-assist loss that does not fully match that explanation, prompting a broader technical assessment.
The eBoost system, introduced in 2019, uses an electronic connection instead of a traditional mechanical link between the pedal and the brakes. GM has deployed it across models such as the Blazer EV, Equinox EV, Cadillac Lyriq, Honda Prologue, and Acura ZDX. The system also appeared in the Cruise Origin autonomous vehicle concept.
Recent reports include a 2025 Lyriq that struck a storefront after brake loss in a parking maneuver, and a 2024 Blazer EV whose driver used a curb to slow the vehicle in traffic. The next phase of review will help clarify how the system performs across real-world driving conditions and may shape the future of software-defined braking design in electric vehicles.
