GM-Chevrolet May Recall Sonoma & S10 Pickups for Possible Tailgate Failure

GM-Chevrolet may be forced to add 1.42 million vehicles to its recall of Silverado pickups for broken tailgates as a new investigation begins by the auto safety agency. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is seeking information about the 1998 through 2004 model Sonoma and S10 pickups after 42 reports of the same cable failure on those vehicles that led to the recall of 3.66 million Silverados.

Five injuries have been reported on the Sonoma and S10 vehicles, the agency's investigation summary reported. The recall to repair the tailgate is the fourth-biggest for GM-Chevrolet, trailing the 6.68 million vehicles recalled in 1971 to fix engine mounts.

The tailgates are reported to be succeptable to giving way in the horizontal position because the support cables could break. The earlier recall included the Chevrolet Avalanche and Cadillac Escalade SUV models. Company spokesman Alan Adler said he didn't know if the Sonoma and S10 had the same type of tailgate cables as the Silverado. He also stated that he was not aware of any warranty claims or complaints the automakers received about the Sonoma and S10 tailgates.