DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is recalling another 3 million cars because of a defect that causes a similar problem to one that led to an earlier massive recall of small cars, and is linked to 13 deaths.
The ignition switches in Chevrolet Impalas, Cadillac Devilles and five other models can slip out of the “run” position if the keychain has too much weight on it and the car is jarred, for example, by hitting a pothole. To fix the problem, GM will revise or replace the key.
Similar to the 2.6 million small cars GM began recalling in February, drivers of the newly recalled models could experience an engine stall, loss of power-assisted steering and brakes, and the air bags may not inflate in a crash. GM says the latest recall involves six injuries and no deaths, and is related to the design of the key. A mechanical defect in the switch is at the heart of the other recall.
GM is in the midst of a companywide safety review, and has now issued 44 recalls this year covering more than 20 million vehicles — nearly 18 million the U.S. The latest recall is likely to spark more questions about GM’s commitment to safety when CEO Mary Barra testifies for the second time before a House panel investigating why it took GM 11 years to recall the small cars.
Barra endured some harsh questions in April, but refused to answer most pending the release of an internal investigation. GM released those results on June 5, blaming a dysfunctional corporate structure and poor decisions by some employees for the crisis. The company also announced plans to establish a fund to compensate the families of those who died, plus those injured in more than 50 crashes.
“This latest recall raises even more questions about just how pervasive safety problems are at GM,” said Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, whose oversight panel is investigating GM’s handling of the ignition switch defect.
Internal investigations found that the switches used in small cars such as the Chevrolet Cobalt and Saturn Ion were approved even though they didn’t meet GM specifications. The force required to turn the switches didn’t meet GM’s specifications, meaning the switches can be turned too easily.
The engineer who designed and approved the switches, Ray DeGiorgio, subsequently had the part supplier change the switch, but didn’t properly document the change. That proved to be a roadblock in GM investigations over a number of years.
GM spokesman Alan Adler said that DeGiorgio also worked on the switches in the cars recalled Monday, but those met GM specifications. GM is still reviewing the performance of other switches across its vehicle lineup, Adler said. So more recalls are possible.