WASHINGTON, DC — Federal safety regulators have widened two major General Motors defect investigations while Nissan and Toyota announced separate recalls tied to airbag mounting fasteners and shock absorber corrosion. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the GM reviews now cover more than 2 million vehicles combined, reflecting a growing number of complaints, crash reports and injury claims.
At the same time, Nissan is recalling 149 Altima sedans, and Toyota is recalling 48,280 Tacoma TRD Off-Road trucks. The filings show how a range of safety issues, from braking and engine failures to fastener mistakes and corrosion, are still moving through the U.S. vehicle-safety system.
GM brake probe grows to 1.16 million vehicles as new complaints mount
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA26006 on Aug. 21 after originally starting a review in April 2024 over complaints involving the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq. The agency has now expanded the brake probe to an estimated 1,164,820 vehicles equipped with GM’s eBoost electronic brake system.
That larger pool includes models such as the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Equinox EV, Cadillac Optiq, and the Acura ZDX and Honda Prologue built with Honda. ODI says it has logged 745 incident reports, along with 22 crashes or fires and five injury incidents.
GM says a fractured eBoost spindle can leave anti-lock brakes, stability control and traction control operating until the vehicle comes to a stop. But ODI says some newer complaints point to an immediate loss of brake assist, which raised the stakes for the expanding review. No recall has been issued.
L87 engine investigation now includes vehicles repaired under an earlier recall
Regulators also opened Engineering Analysis EA26005 on Aug. 20, broadening a separate GM engine review to 997,743 vehicles from the 2021 through 2026 model years. The investigation centers on vehicles fitted with the 6.2-liter L87 V8.
ODI says it has received 499 complaints of engine failure in vehicles that already went through the remedy for Recall 25V-274. GM reported 6,953 complaints. Another 191 reports involve engines built after that recall’s production window, and the agency says those cases are now being folded into the investigation.
The probe grew out of a recall query opened in January that had initially covered 597,571 vehicles. By expanding the analysis, regulators are trying to determine whether the failures extend beyond the earlier fix and how broadly the issue may affect owners.
Nissan Altima fastener mix-up triggers 149-car airbag recall
Nissan is recalling 149 model year 2025 Altima sedans built over two days in December 2025 after discovering that the front passenger airbag and passenger knee airbag modules were fastened with bolts intended for the Frontier. The company said the parts may not hold the required load during deployment.
According to the recall filing, that problem could cause a module to displace or deploy improperly. The vehicles may not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208, which governs occupant crash protection. Nissan said dealers will replace all four bolts at no charge under campaign 26V526.
The recall is small in number, but it underscores how even a limited assembly error can create compliance and safety concerns when airbags are involved. Owners should expect official notification and a free repair through the dealer network.
Toyota recalls 48,280 Tacoma TRD Off-Road trucks over shock reservoir corrosion
Toyota is also recalling roughly 48,000 model year 2024-2025 Tacoma TRD Off-Road trucks because corrosion can cause the oil reservoir on the shock absorbers to detach. NHTSA lists 48,280 vehicles under campaign 26V514.
If the reservoir separates, it can create a road hazard, according to the automaker. Toyota said dealers will inspect the front and rear shock absorber assemblies and replace affected parts free of charge.
The company said customer notices are expected by early October. The recall gives owners a chance to have the suspension checked before a detached component can become a driving hazard or lead to more damage.
What the latest recalls and probes mean for drivers right now
The four actions together show the breadth of the current safety workload facing automakers and regulators. GM’s brake and engine investigations are still open, meaning NHTSA has not yet ordered a recall for those issues, while Nissan and Toyota have already moved into the recall stage.
For owners, the immediate takeaway is simple: watch for notices, confirm whether a vehicle is included, and schedule repairs as soon as a dealer opens the campaign. The NHTSA filings indicate that the Nissan and Toyota repairs will be done at no cost, while the GM investigations remain under review as officials assess the size and severity of the complaints.
As the agency gathers more information, the two GM probes could continue to expand if additional reports point to the same failures. For now, the filings add to a growing list of safety actions affecting electric SUVs, full-size V8 trucks, compact sedans and midsize pickups across the U.S. market.
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