GM recalls 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV over steel wheels that may crack

Here’s the short version: if you’re driving a 2026 Silverado EV or Sierra EV, the steel wheels holding your truck to the road may crack, and a cracked wheel can come apart while you’re driving.

That’s not a squeak-and-rattle problem. That’s a lose-control-of-the-vehicle problem. GM has issued a recall over it, and if your truck is on the list, you need to pay attention.

What’s actually failing

The problem is in the steel wheels themselves. According to the filing, a manufacturing defect can cause the wheels to crack at the disc vent holes.

Let me put that in plain terms. A steel wheel has an outer rim (where the tire mounts) and a center disc (the flat part that bolts to your hub). That disc has vent holes punched through it — those openings you can see behind the wheel face. On these trucks, cracks can start at those vent holes.

Once a crack starts, it doesn’t stay small. The filing says a cracked wheel may lead to disc separation. That means the center of the wheel can let go from the rim. If that happens while you’re moving, you lose control, and your crash risk goes way up.

Here’s why this one matters more than a normal wheel issue. These are electric trucks. They’re heavy. All that battery weight and instant torque puts real load on the wheels every time you launch, brake, or corner. A wheel that’s already prone to cracking at a stress point doesn’t have a lot of margin to give.

You might not get much warning. A vibration, a shimmy, an odd noise from a corner of the truck — that could be a crack working. But it can also fail without a long, obvious lead-up. That’s what makes disc separation dangerous.

What the filing says

This recall showed up in NHTSA’s weekly recall roundup for the week of Aug. 10, 2026, reported within days of Aug. 12, 2026. The vehicles covered are the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV and the 2026 GMC Sierra EV.

The cause, per the filing, is a manufacturing defect in the steel wheels that can produce cracks at the disc vent holes. The safety consequence is disc separation and a possible loss of control, with an increased risk of a crash.

I’m going to be straight with you about what I don’t have. The published source I’m working from is the NHTSA weekly recall summary. It doesn’t spell out an affected-vehicle count or a NHTSA campaign number in what I can confirm, so I’m not going to make one up. When your recall letter arrives, it will carry the official campaign number and the remedy details. Hold onto that letter.

What this means if you own one

1. Run your VIN. Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your 17-digit VIN. That tells you whether your specific truck is included, which matters because not every unit of a model year is always affected. Your VIN is the only thing that gives you a straight yes or no. You can also read up on your truck at the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV and 2026 GMC Sierra EV hubs.

2. Don’t ignore a symptom from a wheel. If you feel a new vibration, a wobble, or a shimmy — especially one that changes with speed — or you hear a noise coming from one corner, treat it seriously. Get the truck somewhere safe and have it looked at. With a known cracked-wheel risk on the table, that’s not the day to keep driving and “see if it goes away.”

3. Do a quick visual check when you can. You don’t need a lift to eyeball the center of your wheels for any visible cracking near the vent holes. If you see a crack, stop driving the truck and call your dealer. That’s not a wait-a-few-weeks situation.

4. Get on the dealer’s schedule. A safety recall repair is free. You do not pay for parts or labor to fix a recall defect. Call your Chevrolet or GMC dealer, give them your VIN, and ask about the remedy and parts availability. On a new-model-year EV, replacement wheels can take time to come in, so getting your name in the queue early helps.

5. Document everything. Keep your recall letter. Write down the dates you called, who you talked to, and what they told you about parts and timing. If you paid out of pocket for anything related — a tow, a wheel inspection, a rental while you waited — save the receipts. If the truck is undrivable while you wait on parts, ask the dealer what they’ll cover.

6. Know your rights. Federal law says the manufacturer has to fix a safety recall at no cost to you. If a dealer tries to charge you or drags their feet, push back, and you can file a complaint with NHTSA.

The honest take

This is a serious defect on paper — a structural part of the vehicle that can fail and cause you to lose control. That’s about as high-stakes as recalls get. The good news is it’s a manufacturing issue with a clear fix: replace the affected wheels. That’s a known quantity for a dealer to handle.

If you own one of these trucks, the move is simple. Run your VIN, watch for any wheel-related symptom, and get the free repair done as soon as parts are available. Don’t put it off because the truck feels fine today. Cracks don’t announce themselves, and a wheel is the last part you want to gamble on.