By Brian Lombardino, Owner of Brian’s Tire and Service
In Brief:
- Major GM Recall Impact: According to Car and Driver’s Eric Stafford (April 29, 2025), GM has recalled 721,000 full-size trucks and SUVs with 6.2-liter V-8 engines due to manufacturing defects in crankshafts and connecting rods, affecting 2021-2024 models.
- Beyond Warranty Protection: Many affected vehicles are outside GM’s 36-month/50,000-mile powertrain warranty; we recommend considering third-party warranties for comprehensive coverage.
- Ongoing Supply Chain Disruptions: The automotive industry continues to face shortages of semiconductor chips, specialized metals, and critical components, leading to production delays and repair challenges.
- Rising Costs and Wait Times: Parts scarcity has increased prices and extended wait times for vehicle repairs and new car purchases throughout 2024-2025.
- Industry Response: Manufacturers are diversifying suppliers, investing in domestic production, and building more resilient supply chains to prevent future disruptions.
- Consumer Strategy: Stay proactive with vehicle maintenance, address warning signs early, and schedule service in advance to minimize the impact of parts delays.
- Our Commitment: Brian’s Tire and Service remains dedicated to transparent communication, finding creative solutions, and maintaining quality service despite supply chain challenges.
Critical Components in Short Supply
The automotive industry continues to face ongoing shortages of critical components in 2025, creating challenges for both vehicle production and repairs.
A prime example is the recent situation with General Motors, which according to Car and Driver, is recalling 721,000 full-size trucks and SUVs with the 6.2-liter V-8 engine, with approximately 598,000 affected vehicles in the U.S. alone.
The massive recall and stop-sale involve popular models like the Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Silverado 1500, and GMC Yukon—all of which are 2021–2024 models—whose engines can lose power or fail.
The massive recall and stop-sale involve popular models like the Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Silverado 1500, and GMC Yukon—all of which are 2021–2024 models—whose engines can lose power or fail.
- Are you protected if your truck or SUV ends up not being covered?
GM’s solution is circumspect. If your vehicle gets inspected and the Engine is not replaced, the dealer will replace the oil filter, oil cap, and add higher-viscosity 0W-40 oil, according to GM’s internal service bulletin for the recall. The issue stems from internal engine parts (crankshaft and connecting rods) that were damaged during the manufacturing process. Do you really think higher viscosity oil will protect you if a damaged part gets past the inspection?
Brian’s Warranty Center suggests (all jokes aside about reaching out to you about your car’s warranty) looking into a 3rd party warranty. GM’s powertrain warranty is 36 months or 50,000 miles. Most models from 2021 and 2022 have already expired. The problem stems from internal manufacturing defects, and vehicles must pass inspection or possibly require an engine replacement. Brian’s Warranty Center works with most aftermarket Warranty Companies.
Beyond the GM recall, semiconductor chips, the brains in modern cars, remain in high demand following the global chip crisis of recent years. These chips control everything from engine performance to safety systems, and a backlog in chip supply has yet to fully clear (Automotive Suppliers Outlook for 2025: Trends and Challenges | S&P Global) (Automotive Industry Trends 2024 | Progressive).
In fact, as vehicles become smarter and more electric, automakers need even more advanced chips – ones quite different from those used in phones or PCs – further straining supply chains (Automotive Industry Trends 2024 | Progressive).
Beyond electronics, specialized metals and materials are also under pressure. Key resources like lithium and cobalt (for electric vehicle batteries) and rare earth metals (for high-tech components) are in high global demand. Geopolitical factors have compounded the issue – for example, many raw materials for chips and batteries come from regions experiencing conflict or instability (Navigating Automotive Supply Chain Challenges in 2025).
Even essential parts made from more common materials can be hard to source if any link in the supply chain breaks down. Everything from certain engine components to simple replacement parts like filters or sensors might occasionally be on backorder due to these global supply hiccups.
Production Delays, Rising Costs, and Repair Wait Times
These shortages are leading to production delays and higher costs across the automotive world. Carmakers have had to slow down assembly lines when they can’t get enough chips or key materials, and at times in recent years some even paused production of certain models (Automotive Industry Trends 2024 | Progressive).
While the situation has improved since the height of the pandemic disruptions, the parts pipeline isn’t fully back to normal. Industry analysts note that the auto supply chain “will likely never look like it did pre-pandemic,” and although inventory levels recovered in 2023, some unpredictability remains (Automotive Industry Trends 2024 | Progressive) (Automotive Industry Trends 2024 | Progressive).
For consumers, this can translate into longer wait times and elevated prices. New vehicle inventories have slowly climbed back, but are still stabilizing, so car prices in 2024–25 remain higher than before (Automotive Industry Trends 2024 | Progressive). Likewise, if your vehicle needs a repair, a part that used to arrive overnight might now take several days or weeks to come in.
Global shipping delays, higher raw material prices, and limited supplies of components all increase the cost of parts (Automotive Suppliers Outlook for 2025: Trends and Challenges | S&P Global). Repair shops and dealerships are paying more to obtain certain items, and those costs can eventually trickle down to customers.
At Brian’s Tire and Service, we have observed these trends firsthand. There have been instances of waiting extra time for a specific OEM sensor or a specialty tire size to restock. We want to reassure you that if your repair is delayed, it’s most likely because we’re awaiting a necessary part stuck in this supply chain bottleneck – not because we don’t understand your urgency. We’re continually adjusting by looking at multiple distributors and even stocking up on common items to minimize any wait you might experience.
How the Industry is Responding
The good news is that the automotive industry isn’t sitting idle. Manufacturers, suppliers, and policymakers are taking major steps to strengthen the supply chain and prevent these issues in the future. Here are a few key strategies underway:
Exploring Alternative Sourcing: Companies are diversifying where they get their parts. Instead of relying on a single supplier or one country for a critical component, automakers are qualifying backup suppliers and sourcing more components closer to home.
This shift is partly driven by lessons learned and even geopolitical pressures – many firms now aim to source fewer parts from overseas to reduce risk (How automakers, suppliers are handling changing supply chains – Automotive News). By spreading out their supply base, a disruption in one region (like a factory shutdown or port delay) is less likely to halt production completely.- Investing in Domestic Production: There’s a significant push to make more parts domestically. In the past two years, billions of dollars have been committed to building new semiconductor fabs and battery plants in the U.S. and other regions. Automakers and governments alike recognized that local production of chips and key materials is vital for independence from volatile global events.
The auto industry has had to be patient as new chip factories come online at home and abroad (Automotive Industry Trends 2024 | Progressive), but those investments are beginning to pay off. Over time, producing crucial components domestically should shorten supply lines and add capacity, making it easier and faster to get parts where they’re needed. - Improving Supply Chain Resilience: “Resilience” has become the buzzword in boardrooms. Recent crises – from natural disasters to the Suez Canal blockage and pandemic lockdowns – have driven OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to prioritize stronger contingency plans (Dentons – Trends and challenges shaping the automotive industry in 2025). This means building more flexibility into logistics and inventory management.
Many manufacturers are keeping slightly higher inventories of critical parts as a buffer (though balancing this against cost), and they’re using advanced forecasting software to better predict demand spikes. Some are redesigning products to use more commonly available materials or interchangeable components. By embedding resilience into every aspect of planning, the industry aims to weather future shocks with less impact on production (Dentons – Trends and challenges shaping the automotive industry in 2025).
Each of these efforts takes time to fully materialize. Global supply chains are like big ships – they don’t turn on a dime. However, these changes are underway and progress is being made. The goal for automakers and parts suppliers is clear: to ensure that a sudden shortage of one component doesn’t cause the kind of domino effect we saw a couple of years ago. In the coming years, these strategies should make the supply of cars and car parts more stable and reliable for everyone.
Our Commitment to You
As supply chain improvements gradually take effect industry-wide, what does this mean for you as a customer of Brian’s Tire and Service? In practical terms, you might continue to encounter occasional delays in parts availability for the near future. We believe in being upfront about this. If a part we need for your vehicle is back-ordered or taking longer to arrive, our team will let you know as soon as possible. Communication is key – and we want you to feel informed every step of the way.
Most importantly, we are committed to maintaining excellent service despite these headwinds. Our technicians and service advisors are finding creative solutions to get you back on the road quickly. In some cases, that might mean sourcing an equivalent quality part from an alternate supplier, expediting shipping, or even doing a temporary fix until the permanent part arrives. We evaluate all options to minimize your downtime. Rest assured, we will never compromise on quality or safety – any alternative solution will meet the same standards we uphold for all our repairs and services.
Your patience and understanding are truly appreciated during this time. We know that having your vehicle out of commission is stressful, and supply chain issues are an unseen complication. At Brian’s Tire and Service, our promise is to keep you informed and deliver honest, top-notch service no matter the external challenges. You’ve trusted us with your vehicle, and we take that responsibility seriously.
Staying Proactive: Tips for Vehicle Owners
While we work hard on our end to navigate these supply issues, there are ways you can stay proactive with your vehicle care to avoid unexpected delays. A little foresight can go a long way in keeping your car running smoothly, especially when parts are in high demand. Here are some tips:
- Schedule Maintenance Early: Don’t wait until something breaks down. If you know a component (for example, brake pads, tires, or a battery) is nearing the end of its life, schedule a replacement or service ahead of time. Routine maintenance checks can catch wear-and-tear before it becomes a problem. By planning maintenance a bit in advance, we can ensure any necessary parts are ordered and ready, reducing the time you’re without your vehicle.
- Plan for Repairs When Possible: Sometimes you get early warnings – a dashboard light, an odd noise, a slow-starting engine – that hint at a developing issue. Pay attention to these signs and address them promptly. It’s often cheaper and faster to fix a problem early. Plus, if a part does need replacing, tackling it before failure gives us the cushion to source the part without the pressure of an urgent breakdown. In short, timely intervention can save days or weeks of waiting versus an emergency repair.
- Stay Informed and Ask Questions: We encourage you to stay engaged with us about your vehicle’s needs. If you’re coming in for service, feel free to ask if any parts we anticipate needing are experiencing delays in the market. Our team keeps up with supply news – if, say, a certain oil filter or electronic module is currently hard to get, we’ll let you know and perhaps recommend scheduling accordingly. We believe an informed customer is an empowered customer. We’re always happy to discuss how these industry-wide issues might indirectly affect your service timeline.
By taking these proactive steps, you’ll help us help you. Together, we can mitigate the impact of any supply chain slowdowns on your day-to-day driving. Our aim is to make sure your vehicle stays safe and reliable without interruption.
Despite the challenges in the broader automotive world, our outlook at Brian’s Tire and Service is optimistic. The industry is learning and adapting, and we are too. We’re confident that with the measures in place, the supply of parts will continue to improve. In the meantime, we remain dedicated to providing you with professional, timely, and transparent service.
Thank you for your continued trust and understanding.
For any questions or to schedule your next service, please visit our website at www.brianstireandservice.com or call us at 256-704-8473. We’re here to keep you rolling safely!
