GM Bulletin Addresses False Side Object Alerts on Silverado EV, Sierra EV and Hummer EV

If your Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV or Hummer EV starts warning you about a vehicle or object beside you when nothing is actually there, General Motors has issued a service bulletin addressing the problem.

GM bulletin PIT6533A covers false or "ghost" left and right Side Object Detection alerts caused by certain short range radar modules.

According to GM, affected drivers may receive side object warnings while driving even though there are no objects around the vehicle.

The issue can also appear after an unrelated collision repair if one or more short range radar modules were replaced.

GM identifies the cause as a software anomaly in the Short Range Radar Modules, and importantly, the bulletin says the problem can affect both factory installed radars and service replacement parts.

What GM Says Is Happening

GM describes the condition as false or ghost left or right Side Object Detection alerts while driving.

In other words, the vehicle may indicate that something is beside it even when the surrounding area is clear.

The bulletin identifies the cause as:

Software Anomaly in Short Range Radar Modules affecting factory and service parts.

That last part is particularly important.

GM is not limiting the problem to radar modules installed when the vehicle was built. Replacement radar modules currently in service inventory can also be affected.

That means replacing an affected radar with another unverified radar could potentially leave the vehicle with another affected part.

Which GM EVs Are Covered?

PIT6533A covers several Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles. For EV Outdoors readers, the battery electric models listed in the bulletin include:

The bulletin also includes several gasoline powered GM vehicles. This article focuses on the EV models most relevant to EV Outdoors readers.

GM lists all VINs within the applicable model year ranges.

The Problem Can Also Appear After Collision Repairs

GM specifically notes that the false alerts may appear after a vehicle has received new service parts following an unrelated collision repair involving replacement short range radars.

That creates an important diagnostic clue for owners.

If your side object detection system worked normally before a repair but started producing false warnings afterward, the replacement radar module itself may be relevant to the diagnosis.

The bulletin does not say that every replacement radar is affected. Instead, GM instructs dealers to identify the specific radar module and have Technical Assistance Center personnel determine whether it is one of the affected parts.

What GM Is Telling Dealers to Do

Unlike a simple diagnostic procedure where the dealer immediately replaces the suspected sensor, GM is requiring an additional verification step.

Step 1: Identify the Suspected Short Range Radar

If the dealer believes a short range radar is responsible for the false Side Object Detection alerts, GM instructs the technician to create a case with the Technical Assistance Center, commonly referred to as TAC.

Step 2: Provide the Radar Identification Information

The dealer must provide TAC with the radar's Trace Data Identifier or add a picture of the short range radar to the case.

GM included an example image of the radar module and its identifying information on page two of PIT6533A.

TAC then uses that information to determine whether the radar the dealer suspects is affected by the software anomaly.

Step 3: Replace the Radar If TAC Confirms It Is Affected

If TAC confirms the short range radar is one of the affected parts, GM says the radar should be replaced using the latest part number listed in GM Parts Connect.

However, there is another important step before the replacement is installed.

GM Says Replacement Radar Inventory Can Also Be Affected

This may be the most significant detail in the bulletin.

GM states that service stock is also affected.

As a result, GM recommends that dealers provide TAC with the Trace Data Identifier from the replacement radar before installing and programming it.

TAC can then verify that the replacement module is not one of the affected parts.

That means the repair process potentially involves verification of both the radar already installed in the vehicle and the radar intended to replace it.

It is an unusual but important precaution because simply installing another radar module from service inventory does not, by itself, guarantee that the replacement is unaffected.

Does This Mean Every 2026 Silverado EV or Sierra EV Has the Problem?

No.

GM's bulletin describes a condition that may occur on certain vehicles. It does not state that every Silverado EV, Sierra EV, Hummer EV or other listed model will experience false side object detection warnings.

GM also specifically cautions that owners should not assume the bulletin applies to their vehicle simply because their model and model year are included.

The bulletin becomes relevant when the symptoms match the condition GM describes.

Is PIT6533A a Recall?

No. PIT6533A is a General Motors service bulletin, not a recall notice.

Service bulletins provide technicians with diagnostic and repair information for conditions that may occur on certain vehicles.

In this case, GM is providing dealers with a procedure for determining whether a short range radar module is affected by the software anomaly and, if necessary, replacing it with a verified part.

What Should Owners Watch For?

The primary symptom described by GM is straightforward: a left or right Side Object Detection warning appearing while driving even though there is no object around the vehicle.

If you experience the problem, particularly if it occurs repeatedly, it may be useful to document:

• Which side of the vehicle generates the warning
• Whether the alert occurs repeatedly or intermittently
• Whether the vehicle recently received collision repairs
• Whether any short range radar modules were replaced during those repairs
• The circumstances under which the warning appears
• GM bulletin number PIT6533A

If the problem appeared after a collision repair involving radar replacement, that history may be particularly relevant because GM specifically addresses replacement service parts in the bulletin.

The bulletin is written for professional technicians, and GM advises owners to consult a dealer rather than treating the document as a do it yourself repair procedure.

What About Warranty Coverage?

GM includes warranty labor operations in PIT6533A for replacement of front, rear and rear side short range radar sensors when the repair is covered under applicable bumper to bumper warranty coverage.

Actual warranty coverage depends on the individual vehicle and its warranty status. GM instructs dealers to verify coverage using the vehicle's warranty history.

EV Outdoors Takeaway

The most important part of PIT6533A is not simply that a short range radar can cause false Side Object Detection alerts.

It is that GM says the software anomaly affects both factory and service parts.

For owners, that means a radar replacement may require more than simply swapping the suspected module. GM wants dealers to verify the identification of the original radar with TAC, and because service stock may also be affected, the replacement radar should be verified before it is installed and programmed.

For 2026 Silverado EV, Sierra EV and Hummer EV owners experiencing unexplained side object warnings, PIT6533A is a useful bulletin number to have when speaking with the dealer.

It may be especially relevant if the problem started after collision repairs involving replacement radar modules.

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Sources and Methodology

General Motors: Service Bulletin PIT6533A , August 2026, "False / Ghost Left or Right Side Object Detection Alerts."