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7 Years Before Recall, Crash Investigator Raised Concern Over Switched-Off G.M. Air Bags – 2/21/14
The Center for Auto Safety is the nation’s premier independent, member driven, non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to improving vehicle safety, quality, and fuel economy on behalf of all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
In 2007, about seven years before General Motors’ recent recall of 778,000 small cars because a jolt or a heavy key ring could turn off the engine and disable the air bags, an investigator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration raised the possibility of such danger after researching a crash that had killed two teenagers.
The investigator also noted the existence of a 2005 technical service bulletin – which was updated in 2006 – in which G.M. warned dealers that it was possible the engine could be accidentally turned off because of a problem with the ignition.
But the agency never opened an investigation or made an effort to pursue a recall of the cars.