According to CNN, General Motors has agreed to pay a $35 million fine to settle a federal probe into the 10-year delay of its ignition switch recall.
GM has admitted that it knew about the problems with the ignition switch as early as 2004. The recall, announced in March, has been linked to at least 13 deaths.
The recall includes about 2.6 million vehicles, including Saturn Ion (2003-2007), Chevrolet Cobalt (2005-2010), Chevrolet HHR (2006-2011), Pontiac G5 (2007-2010), Pontiac Solstice (2006-2010) and Saturn Sky (2007-2010) vehicles.
GM has reported that the ignition on the vehicles could accidentally switch out of the run position while the car is being driven. When this occurs, the vehicle’s engine shuts off, rendering its brakes, power steering and airbags ineffective.
According to CNN, through the fine and settlement, GM has also agreed to make internal changes that regulators say will help it do a better job of detecting safety problems with its cars.
“Crashes happened and people died,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said, according to CNN. “Had GM acted differently, perhaps some of this tragedy might have been averted.”
It should be noted that manufacturers are required to tell the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) within five days if they learn of a potential safety defect on a vehicle.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I OWN A DEFECTIVE GM VEHICLE?
As we reported last week, in addition to death, car accidents resulting from defective parts can result in injuries like spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI) or broken bones.
For more information about the GM recall or other automobile manufacturer recalls resulting in injuries or deaths, you can contact Nashville injury lawyer Stanley A. Davis.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – Romans 10:13
Source: https://money.cnn.com/2014/05/16/news/companies/gm-nhtsa/