People Are Getting Sick From GM SUVs

2015 Chevrolet Suburban (Credit: Chevrolet)

Full-size GM SUVs are reportedly making people sick. Some 2015 Chevy Tahoes and Suburbans, plus Cadillac Escalades and GMC Yukons have a vibration problem that’s bad enough it can make drivers and passengers dizzy, or suffer from a severe headache or ear pain. Some owners have also described a buffeting sensation, like when one window is left at least partway down while going freeway speeds.

The issue usually pops up when the vehicles go between 40 and 50 mph. This isn’t the first time that these kinds of problems have been reported in a group of vehicles, like the Jeep Death Wobble.

Multiple complaints have been filed with NHTSA and GM is well aware of the issue. The automaker is trying to find a solution, but pinpointing the exact cause can be tricky since it might come from a number of possible sources. One of the most elusive aspects of the vibrations is that they’re happening in only a small fraction of the SUVs.

Reportedly, a solution can be pretty simple, sometimes involving just rotating and balancing the tires (which people should be doing anyway) or swapping out the door seals. In some cases it involves a more involved approach, like reattaching the roof sheet metal to the bows.

Others think that the cylinder deactivation technology is triggering the vibrations and buffeting. To help save on fuel, the V-8 engines shut down half of the cylinders whenever the SUV is cruising. For now it’s one of many theories.

Depending on the cause, dealers may or may not able to address it. Adding to the bad news is there’s no recall or formal NHTSA investigation, so owners might have to make repairs out of their own pocket. GM has bought some defective SUVs back, but only in some cases.

If you’re considering buying a new GM full-size SUV, the automaker says it has fixed the problem for the 2016 model year. Contradicting that claim is a report from AutoGuide, which says that one guy with a 2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali has been experiencing the buffeting sensation whenever he goes over 35 mph.