General Motors has issued a recall for more than 40,440 bottles of brake fluid due to a non-compliance issue that prevents it from meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has brought attention to this matter, specifically targeting a subset of ACDelco GMW Dot 3 brakes and clutch fluid identified by part number 19353126.

The affected brake fluid was produced between October 19, 2022, and December 28, 2022. The recall was prompted by the discovery of visible particulates in the fluid, which could interfere with braking performance and increase the risk of a crash due to brake failure.

On August 7, 2025, an investigation conducted by a third-party test lab revealed that the brake fluid was not in compliance with FMVSS regulations. This finding led General Motors to initiate an internal investigation on the same day, uncovering sediments in the brake fluid. The source of the sediment was traced back to two ingredients in the fluid, with no evidence of external contamination as per General Motors’ supplier.

The cause of the particulates in the brake fluid remains unknown, as they are typically filtered out during the manufacturing or bottling process under normal circumstances.

General Motors will be replacing the affected fluid and compensating dealers and ACDelco for their expenses related to the product purchase. Direct purchasers will also be reimbursed for any remaining stock of the affected fluid. Dealers were notified on May 6, with a scheduled notification for ACDelco’s direct purchasers on June 8.