General Motors has yet again announced six new safety recalls today making it the single largest collective recall for the company this year. This new round of recalls involves more than 7.5 million vehicles in the United States.
To date, the company has called back more than 25 million vehicles in the United States for safety-related repairs, according to USA TODAY. This total recall is comparable to all recalls issued for all automakers in recent years.
The company is under heavy scrutiny by the public as well as auto watchdogs including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, since its first safety recall for faulty ignition switches which have been linked to 13 deaths in the U.S. alone.
According to USA TODAY, the majority of the vehicles in the latest announcement, (more than 6.8 million in the U.S.) are covered by a single new recall that extends the small-car ignition switch issue – “unintended ignition key rotation” that can shut off the engine while underway – to more midsize and full-size GM cars.
GM spokesman Alan Adler says although the latest recall’s ignition switches met GM’s specifications, there are fears that if they are bumped or jarred, they can pop into “accessory,” disabling the car’s airbags.
Models included in Monday’s switch recall include the 1997 to 2005 Chevrolet Malibu, 1998 to 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999 to 2004 Oldsmobile Alero; 1999 to 2005 Pontiac Grand Am; 2000 to 2005 Pontiac Grand Am; 2000 to 2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo and 2004 to 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. A separate U.S. recall covers 554,328 vehicles: the 2003 to 2014 Cadillac CTS and 2004 to 2006 Cadillac SRX.
In addition to this set of recalls, details of a compensation fund for victims of the small-car switch recalls were disclosed by fund administrator Kenneth Feinberg.
Aside from switch-related recalls, GM is calling back:
– 181,984 SUVs to fix a glitch that could lead to electrical shorts in driver’s doors that could disable power door locks and window switches. Included are 2005 to 2007 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender, Saab 9-7x, 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL.
– 9,271 heavy-duty pickup trucks to fix a fuse issue that could lead to electrical overload, and possible fires. Being recalled is the 2007 to 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD, GMC Sierra HD when equipped with an auxiliary battery.
– 2,990 smaller vehicles for insulation on engine blocks that can be damaged in cold weather. Included are the 2011 to 2014 Chevrolet Cruze, 2012 to 2014 Chevrolet Sonic, 2013 to 2014 Chevrolet Trax, Buick Encore and Verano.
– 106 cars for a joint fastener that may not have been tightened properly. Included are 2014 Chevrolet Camaro and Impala, Buick Regal and Cadillac XTS.
Like all product manufacturers, automakers bear the responsibility of ensuring that their cars are mechanically safe and do not pose a threat to drivers. And when car companies fail at making sure their cars are safe, they are liable if and when an individual is injured because of their negligence.
At Altman & Altman LLP, our seasoned Products Liability Attorneys have nearly 50 years of knowledge and experience handling all types of defective products and products liability cases, and we have the skills to fight against large consumer products companies so that our clients achieve the highest financial compensation for their injuries. If you or a loved one was a victim of the GM recalled ignition switch, or if you were injured as the result of a faulty product, call our office today to speak to an attorney to discuss your legal options and whether you might qualify for a products liability claim. All initial consultations are completely free of charge and of no obligation to you. Our team of lawyers is available around the clock to answer any and all questions you may have about your case.