General Motors is recalling thousands of containers of brake fluid after federal regulators found that some batches may not meet required safety standards and may contain visible sediment that could affect braking performance.
More than 40,000 units of ACDelco GMW DOT 3 brake fluid distributed in the United States are involved, 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 limited to this batch built in 2022.
The fluid was sold as replacement brake and clutch fluid and distributed through dealers and direct buyers associated with General Motors and ACDelco supply channels.
Why is brake fluid being recalled?
NHTSA said testing found visible sediment in some containers of 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 lots. Additional testing conducted by NHTSA in March on open samples from the same lot again found visible sediment and confirmed that the product failed to meet federal standards.
According to General Motors, the sediment appears to have come from two additives in the brake fluid rather than external contamination. Under normal manufacturing conditions, those particles are typically filtered out before the product is bottled.
Federal regulators warned that, in some situations, sediment could interfere with brake performance.
GM said it has not received any reports of accidents, injuries or warranty claims related to the recalled brake fluid.
what happens next
General Motors said it decided to move forward with the non-compliance recall after completing its internal review in April and confirming federal testing results. The company will reimburse dealers and direct buyers for the remaining stock from the affected lots once verification is completed.
Dealers are expected to start receiving notifications from May 6, while other direct buyers will be contacted from June 8. Consumers who believe they have purchased the affected product are advised to verify the lot number and follow the guidance of retailers or distributors.
Buyers 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