NHTSA Recall 26V496000: GMC Sierra EV & Chevrolet Silverado EV Steel Wheels May Crack

What the recall covers

Recall 26V496000 (GM references N262556920 and N262556921) covers 952 model-year 2026 electric trucks — 439 GMC Sierra EVs and 513 Chevrolet Silverado EVs. A manufacturing process at supplier Topy America that forms the vent holes in the steel wheel disc may not have been properly adjusted, and fatigue testing revealed hairline cracks forming at the outer ring of those vent holes. A crack can propagate over time and eventually lead to disc separation, which means reduced steering control and a serious crash risk. GM estimates roughly 74 percent of the recalled trucks actually have the defective wheels — an unusually high rate. Which wheels are affected differs by truck: Silverado EVs are covered for the steel road wheels (RPO RT3) and/or the steel spare (RPO SG8), while Sierra EVs are covered for the steel spare wheel only, so a Sierra EV ordered without a spare is not affected.

The remedy

Dealers will inspect the steel wheels to determine whether they came from the supplier's suspect production lots and replace any that did, free of charge. On the Sierra EV only the spare is inspected; on steel-wheel Silverado EVs all four road wheels plus the spare are checked. Because the same wheels (part numbers 85162242 and 85535663) were also sold over the counter, GM has instructed dealers to trace parts sales back to October 21, 2025 and notify those buyers as well. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed beginning September 14, 2026. There is no do-not-drive or park-outside advisory, and GM reports no field complaints or incidents.

What owners should do now

• Check whether your truck actually has steel wheels — most of these trucks ride on alloys, and on the Sierra EV only the steel spare is covered.
• If you carry a steel spare, this recall is a reason not to mount it and forget about it. A cracked spare put into service on the road is the failure mode that matters here.
• Run your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls now rather than waiting for the September letter — GM estimates about 74 percent of the recalled trucks genuinely have the defect, so the odds of a hit are high if your VIN is listed.
• If you bought a steel wheel over the counter from a GM parts department after October 21, 2025, you may be affected even though it is not tied to your VIN. Contact the dealer that sold it.
• Keep the recall letter and every repair order, including the inspection visit even if no wheel is replaced.
• If the truck develops vibration, a pull, or repeated wheel or tire problems after the inspection, document each occurrence with the date — a recall repair that does not resolve the issue is what a lemon law claim is built on.

How to check your VIN

Confirm whether a specific vehicle is included by entering the 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or by calling the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. VINs became searchable July 30, 2026. Suspect Sierra EVs were built October 24, 2025 through March 13, 2026; suspect Silverado EVs were built November 25, 2025 through March 13, 2026.

GMC customer service: 800-462-8782 · Chevrolet: 800-222-1020 (GM's numbers for this recall are N262556920 and N262556921). NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline: 888-327-4236.

When this recall can become a California lemon law claim

A recall is not automatically a lemon — it is the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free fix. Your GMC may qualify under California's Lemon Law if the recall repair is significantly delayed, doesn't resolve the problem, or your vehicle has other unrepaired warranty defects. In those cases you may be entitled to a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement, with the manufacturer paying your attorney fees. For the full breakdown, see the guides below.