General Motors is recalling tens of thousands of containers of brake fluid after federal regulators found certain batches may not meet required safety standards and could contain visible sediment that may affect braking performance.
The recall involves more than 40,000 units of ACDelco GMW DOT 3 Brake Fluid distributed in the United States, according to a notice published on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.
The affected brake fluid is limited to lot number 01977 091222. General Motors said no other production lots are affected, and the issue is confined to this batch manufactured in 2022.
The fluid was sold as replacement brake and clutch fluid and distributed through dealers and direct purchasers tied to General Motors and ACDelco supply channels.
Why Is the Brake Fluid Being Recalled?
The NHTSA said testing found visible sediment in some containers of the brake fluid, meaning the product did not meet federal safety standards.
Federal regulators first notified GM of the issue in August 2025 after third-party compliance testing conducted in June 2024 identified concerns with samples from the affected 2022 production lot. Additional testing conducted by NHTSA in March on unopened samples from the same lot again found visible sediment and confirmed the product failed to meet federal standards.
According to General Motors, the sediment appears to come from two additives in the brake fluid rather than outside contamination. Under normal manufacturing conditions, those particles are typically filtered out before the product is bottled.
Federal regulators warned that, in some situations, the sediment could interfere with brake performance.
GM said it has not received any reports of crashes, injuries or warranty claims connected to the recalled brake fluid.
What Happens Next
General Motors said it decided in April to proceed with a noncompliance recall after completing its internal review and confirming federal testing results. The company will reimburse dealers and direct purchasers for remaining stock from the affected lot once verification is complete.
Dealers are expected to begin receiving notifications May 6 while other direct purchasers are scheduled to be contacted starting June 8. Consumers who believe they may have purchased the affected product are advised to verify the lot number and follow guidance from retailers or distributors.
Purchasers can also contact GM customer service at 866-467-9700 for more information. GM’s recall number for the issue is N262552830.
Reporting by Anthony Thompson, USA TODAY
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