Editor's note: The fuel economy ratings on front-wheel drive versions of GM's 2016 large crossovers were incorrect in an earlier version of this story.
DETROIT -- General Motors instructed dealers to stop selling their entire inventory of about 60,000 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave large crossovers as the company scrambles to replace incorrect EPA labels that overstate the vehicles’ fuel-economy ratings.
GM notified dealers Wednesday that an “inadvertent error” listed the EPA fuel economy ratings “as 1-2 MPG higher than it should have been,” according to a memo sent to all U.S. Chevy, Buick and GMC dealers and obtained by Automotive News.
“GM is stopping sale of the affected models until a corrected label is printed and affixed,” the memo reads. A document sent to dealers lists 59,823 vehicles that cannot be delivered to customers until they get the correct label.
A separate memo sent to dealers Friday said replacement labels should “start arriving at dealerships” on Saturday and that all of them should arrive by Tuesday. Known as the Monroney sticker, the label shows the EPA’s official fuel-economy ratings for the vehicle, along with pricing and other information.
GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson confirmed that GM has grounded all ’16 Traverse, Acadia and Enclave models. He said GM is working with its supplier to print and overnight labels to dealerships. He didn’t provide a timeline for when they are expected to be delivered.
“We’re working as quickly as possible to fix the problem and get the labels shipped,” Wilkinson said. He said an inadvertent “data transmission” was responsible for the mistake.