Chevy Cruz Brake Recall: Technical and Layman Explanation

General Motors is recalling almost 300,000 Chevrolet Cruze with the turbo engines and manual transmissions in the U.S. and Canada because the power-assisted brakes can fail. My first reaction was that they sold almost 300,000 cars with this option package, good job GM! Good job America for getting back to manual transmission!

#1 points to the switch that has to be replaced as part of the recall.
#1 points to the switch that has to be replaced as part of the recall.

The recall affects Cruzes made in Lordstown, Ohio, from the 2011 and 2012 model years that are equipped with 1.4-litre turbocharged gasoline engines and 6T-40 six-speed automatic transmissions,

The problem is a switch in the pipe that goes from the vacuum pump to the booster. This switch can fail and cause a unassisted stop. 27 low speed crashes have been reported.

The problem occurs on a very small number of Cruzes. The vehicles in question have a electric vacuum pump due to the turbo. The switch can fail and prevent the vacuum pump from coming on. The brakes still work and the driver is still able to stop in a reasonable distance.

SOURCE