WASHINGTON (AFP) - General Motors issued a recall notice on Friday (Sept 9) for 4.3 million cars and trucks worldwide due to a dangerous electronic fault that could prevent airbag deployment in an accident.

GM said that in certain driving conditions, the vehicle's airbag sensing and diagnostic module software could automatically begin a diagnostic test that, if running during an accident, could prevent front-seat airbags and seatbelt pretensioners from deploying.

GM learned of the fault from a May 17, 2016, accident of a 2014 Silverado truck in which the airbag and tensioners did not activate.

The recall covers a wide range of sedans, sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks from the 2014-2017 model years: Buick LaCrosse and Encore; Chevrolet SS, Spark EV, Corvette, Trax, Caprice, Tahoe, Suburban and Silverado; GMC Sierra and Yukon; and Cadillac Escalade.

The recall covers 3.6 million vehicles in the United States and 640,000 sold in other countries.