General Motors’ range of electric vehicles, including those built in partnership with Honda, are now under intense federal scrutiny due to hundreds of incidents and over 20 crashes or fires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has classified its investigation as an “engineering analysis,” the highest level it performs.

The issue stems from a ‘eBoost’ brake-by-wire system, introduced in 2019, which has been linked to fractures in the spindle and inconsistent reports of sudden loss of braking assistance. GM insists that this does not pose an unreasonable risk but is working closely with NHTSA as its investigation progresses.

The eBoost system was designed to provide different brake ‘feel’ depending on driving mode but has now become a point of concern for safety regulators. Reports from drivers include losing control in parking lots and needing to deliberately crash into curbs to slow down, highlighting the severity of the issue.

With over 1 million vehicles potentially affected, this investigation could have far-reaching implications for electric vehicle technology and safety standards.