Saturday, April 19, 2014

SAFETY NEWSFLASH: 2.6 million GM vehicles have been recalled since February, 13 people known dead, in 32 crashes, due to a 1 dollar switch

At least 13 deaths in Saturn Ions, Chevrolet Cobalts and other models have been linked to the faulty ignition switches, which are prone to being bumped or jostled into accessory mode while cars are still moving. That can shut off engines and disable power steering, power brakes and airbags.

The company is facing numerous lawsuits over the vehicles, on behalf of individuals injured or killed in crashes or customers who say their cars lost value as a result of the recall.

 Plaintiffs in those cases have accused GM of knowing about the defect for at least a decade, but failing to recall cars until this year.

The case is Silvas v. General Motors, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, No. 14-89.

found on http://news.yahoo.com/u-judge-declines-order-park-now-notices-gm-165837959--sector.html

GM has reported several things that could cause the ignition switch to fail. If the car goes over a hard bump, or if the steering column or ignition switch is suddenly jilted or jarred, or if the weight of the key ring is significant and causes the ignition switch to loosen over time, then the engine may suddenly turn off and the airbags may become disabled.

Traffic deaths caused by such conditions began being reported many years ago, yet GM did not recall the affected vehicles to fix the problem. GM has admitted that it was tracking and following such cases with interest, but still did nothing.
above two paragraphs from http://www.pulaskimiddleman.com/practice-areas/products-liability/gm-recall-lawsuits/?gclid=CJjtj-Xw7L0CFRSPfgod33YAng



GM acknowledges that the faulty ignition switch has been linked to 32 crashes and 13 deaths. 
The design GM ended up choosing to install in vehicles starting in 2003 did not meet GM’s own design specifications for torque, as shown by documents released last week.

Beginning in January, 2014, GM has recalled the following vehicles:
 Buick Enclave – 2008 to 2013 
Chevrolet Cobalt – 2005 to 2010 
Chevrolet HHM – 2006 to 2011 
Chevrolet Traverse – 2009 to 2013 
GMC Acadia – 2008 to 2013 
Opal GT – 2007 Pontiac G5 – 2007 to 2010 
Pontiac Solstice – 2006 to 2010 
Saturn Ion – 2003 to 2007 
Saturn Outlook – 2008 to 2010 

In the wake of further studies it is possible that GM may recall additional models soon. Additionally, it has been reported that the faulty ignition switches could have been repaired for less than $1 each.


“We now know, from Engineering Drawings and Documents submitted to the U.S. Congress by General Motors, the company created two competing designs for the ignition switch on the 2003 Saturn Ion and later models including the Chevrolet Cobalt and other recalled vehicles,” it says. “But GM chose to use the ignition switch that would fail as your customers were driving innocently on the highway.”

In an interview, Ditlow told NBC News that, based on his 40 years experience in the auto industry reading engineering and cost documents, he can reach no other conclusion other than that GM opted for the shorter part because of the price.

The new allegation against GM came Wednesday morning in a joint letter to GM CEO Mary Barra from Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, and Joan Claybrook, former administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and former executive director of Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization.


Kevin Six says that before he takes his car in to have it fixed, he's inviting artists to help him paint the outside of the vehicle with messages and imagery meant to communicate their disappointment in the slow and slimy way he says General Motors handled the recall.
http://deathtrapartcar.com/?utm_source=2007CobaltDeathtrapArtCar+E-Mail+List&utm_campaign=4d40606625-Open_Car_4_22_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_95470e913d-4d40606625-147363865

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