Boston Injury Lawyer Blog
Raising the number of vehicles it has recalled this year so far to nearly 15.4 million autos, General Motors Co. announced this week that it is recalling another 2.8 million cars globally. This latest round involves possibly faulty air bags, seat belts, transmissions, and fire hazards. Most of the autos impacted are in the United States.
The actions affect: 1,402 Escalade ESVs and Cadillac Escalades (2015 models), which have been linked to improperly attached airbags; 284,913 Chevrolet and Optra autos (2004-2008 models) because their daytime running lights may overheat, potentially causing a fire; 1,339,355 Buick Enclaves, GMC Acadias, and Chevrolet Traverses (2009-2014 models) and the Saturn Outlook (2000-2010 models) over a weak seatbelt design; 58 GMC Sierra HDs and Chevrolet Silverado HDs (2005 model) due to a fire hazard; and 1,075,102 Pontiac G6, Malibu Maxxes, and Chevy Malibus (2004-2008 models) over a transmission issue. With that problem, drivers may not be able to change gears, put the the car in park mode, or take the key out of the ignition. Already, this has resulted in at least 18 car accidents and one injury.
GM to Pay $35M NHTSA Fine
Just last week GM recalled nearly 3 million other autos and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ordered the automaker to pay a $35 million fine. The automaker admitted that employees knew certain vehicles were experiencing ignition switch issues as far back as 10 years ago or even earlier. Even though federal regulation mandates that automakers notify the government of safety issues within five business days of discovery, GM didn’t start recalling the affected autos-2.6 million of them-until February 2014.
The ignition switch problem has been linked to at least 13 fatalities. Already there have been wrongful death lawsuits and auto products liability cases against GM.
One couple that settled their faulty ignition switch case against the car manufacturer in 2013 over their daughter’s wrongful death is suing again. They contend that if they’d known that the automaker was concealing evidence about the safety issue they would not settled.
In Massachusetts, please contact our Boston auto defect lawyers at Altman & Altman, LLP today.
GM to pay $35 million over delayed recall, CNN Money, May 16, 2014
GM issues more recalls, this time for 2.42 million vehicles, Los Angeles Times, May 20, 2014
GM adds 284,000 older cars as number of U.S. recalls this year hits 29, Reuters, May 21, 2014
More Blog Posts:
Needham, MA Teen Injured in Hit-And-Run Days before Prom, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, May 6, 2014
Appeals Court: Runaway Dump Truck $10.1 Million Verdict Stands, Boston Car Accident Lawyers Blog, May 19, 2014
OSHA Focuses on Protecting Cell Tower Employees after Increase in Worksite Fatalities, Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Blog, February 20, 2014
