Issues
CBS News Stories – General Motors Ignition Switch Recall
Family sues G.M. after head-on collision kills two, paralyzes boy – 5/6/14
Watchdog: Recall system failed with GM ignition switch defect – 3/13/14
Government demands answers from GM about a deadly defect – 3/5/14
Citing Long-Delayed G.M. Recall, Senator Calls for Change in Safety Agency’s Process – 2/26/14
The 10-year investigation and problematic recall of 1.4 million General Motors cars related to 13 deaths shows that the government’s early-warning reporting system isn’t working, Senator Edward J. Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, said on Wednesday in a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Had the system worked better, it might have saved lives, Mr. Markey said in the letter to David Friedman, the acting administrator of the safety agency.
GM adds 842,000 vehicles to recall linked to fatal crashes – 2/25/14
DETROIT – General Motors (GM) on Tuesday doubled to 1.6 million the number of small cars it is recalling to fix faulty ignition switches linked to multiple fatal crashes.
Just two weeks ago, GM announced the recall of more than 780,000 Chevrolet Cobalts and Pontiac G5s. It’s now adding 842,000 Saturn Ion compacts, Chevrolet HHR SUVs and Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky sports cars.
GM issues rare public apology amid recall of 1.6 million cars – 2/26/14
In a rare public apology, General Motors acknowledged Tuesday that it may have reacted too slowly to a safety issue linked to 13 deaths.
The delayed response could potentially cost GM tens of millions of dollars in civil penalties if the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration determines the automaker neglected to inform regulators.
The NHTSA is also facing criticism for not demanding that GM act more quickly to recall more than 1.6 million vehicles.
GM Apologizes as Ignition Recall Widened to 1.6 Million Cars – 2/25/14
General Motors Co. (GM:US), saying it was “deeply sorry,” more than doubled the scope of a vehicle recall to fix defective ignition switches now linked to 13 deaths from airbags failing to deploy.
The recalls, limited initially to 778,562 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 cars, were widened to include 2003-2007 Saturn Ions, 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHRs, 2006-2007 Pontiac Solstice and the 2006-2007 Saturn Sky, the Detroit-based company said in a statement today. About 1.62 million cars are now included.
G.M. Report Shows Recall Investigation Took 10 Years – 2/25/14
Alan Batey, president of General Motors North America, said Tuesday that the automaker’s nearly decade-long investigation of a defect for which it is now recalling 1.4 million vehicles – and which is related to 13 deaths — “was not as robust as it should have been.” The admission came as the automaker tried to explain to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration why it took so long to recall the vehicles.