GM Ignition Switch Recall

In February of 2014 General Motors (GM) issued a recall of 8.4 million Saturns, Chevrolets, and Pontiacs due to a  defect with the ignition switch that caused sudden car accidents. Heavy keys can cause the switches to turn off the vehicles, disabling the airbags and power steering, causing drivers to unexpectedly lose control. This defect from GM has led to serious injuries and death.

GM knew about this problem for years prior to the recall perhaps as early as 2003 and certainly by 2005 and 2006 when engineers redesigned the key system due to safety concerns but the idea was rejected because GM did not want to spend money on it. By June 2013 at least 67 deaths were caused by defective GM ignition switches, 113 people verified to be injured and another 1500 injury claims are under review.

GM could have prevented these accidents by more quickly changing the cars engineering and quality after safety concerns arose within the company and issuing a recall sooner to those vehicles already made. In fact, GM’s own investigation found “a pattern of incompetence and neglect” throughout the company.