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IGNITION SWITCH

GM Recalls Top 20 Million Vehicles Worldwide

June 19, 2014 by admin 3 Comments

That the General Motors Company is facing a recall crisis is understood. That the number of vehicles affected have pushed past the 17 million mark in the United States and 20 million worldwide boggles the imagination. Incidentally, the domestic number is more than five times the amount of vehicles GM sells in the US each year.

GM Recalls: Chevrolet ImpalaThe affected models cover select model year 2000 to 2014 vehicles, with only one still in production: the 2014 Chevrolet Impala Limited. That Impala is based on the previous generation model and is sold to rental fleet customers only. The other models cover GM’s entire brand range and include vehicles from discontinued lines such as Saturn and Pontiac.

GM Recalls: Ignition Keys

Earlier this week GM announced that it would rework or replace the ignition keys on more than 3.16 million vehicles sold to US customers. The reason? Because the ignition switch may inadvertently move out of the “run” position and shut off. This can occur if the chain holding the key is weighted down and jarred, such as when hitting a speed bump or a pothole.

The latest recall follows one issued in February covering the Chevrolet Cobalt, the Pontiac G5, the Saturn Ion and several other small cars. As with any ignition failure event, owners of the vehicles need to know that power steering and power braking can be affected. With control of the car lost, serious accidents may take place. Several deaths have also been reported.

GM Recalls Buick LucerneThe most recent recall includes 2000 through 2005 model year Cadillac Deville sedans and 2004 through 2011 Cadillac DTS sedans. Also affected are the Buick Regal LS & GS (2004 & 2005), Buick Lacrosse (2005 through 2009) and the Buick Lucerne (2006 through 2011). Chevrolet Monte Carlo models from 2006 through 2008 and Chevrolet Impala models from 2006 through 2014 are also covered.

Recall Notification

Recall notices for these and other GM vehicles have been and are now being sent out. Repairs are paid by GM and are handled at the dealership. For discontinued models, GM will direct owners to a local GM dealer. For the February recall, GM has set up an Ignition Recall Safety Information website to guide customers. It includes a local GM dealer finder.

For the latest recall, GM says that it will “…add an insert to the ignition keys of the recalled vehicles to close the slot and leave a 46-millimeter hole through which the key ring could be attached.” Even with a worn key cover the automaker will provide new keys with holes instead of slots and at no cost to customers.

GM has provided a running total of its 2014 recalls for customer review. Visit this page to find the chart.


GM Recalls: Chevrolet Cobalt

GM recalls include this Chevrolet Cobalt coupe.

First 2014 GM Recalls

The first recall issued by GM for 2014 was announced on Jan. 13 and involved approximately 325,000 models of its 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks. GM found that the vehicles might be prone to overheated exhaust components that could melt nearby plastic parts and cause an engine fire.

Since then, GM has announced more than 40 additional recalls, including one covering the earlier ignition switch problem for select small cars. Among its larger recalls were replacing the side impact connector for its large crossover models, a recall involving electronic power steering for some midsize models and replacing the brake lamps in certain midsize models as well. A number of recalls involved fewer than 100 vehicles, while eight involved more than 1 million vehicles.

The repairs will cost GM dearly with the company expected to take a $700 million charge in the second quarter, what follows earlier recalls that also cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars. All told, GM may be footing a bill that exceeds $2 billion with lawsuits adding to that total.


GM Recall: GMC Sierra

GMs first recall involved this GMC Sierra pickup truck.

Do Not Ignore Recalls

Owners of the affected vehicles should not ignore their recall notices. The NHTSA reports that the response rate is about 70 percent which means that more than 5 million of the vehicles recalled by GM thus far this year likely will never be repaired. Ignoring certain recalls can be especially harmful as in doing so can put the driver, passengers, other drivers and pedestrians in danger.


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Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: BUICK, CADILLAC, Chevrolet, GM, Gmc, IGNITION SWITCH, Pontiac, RECALL, Saturn

Recalls: GM Sets the Narrative

March 19, 2014 by admin 1 Comment

General Motors earlier this week announced a fresh series of recalls, going well beyond an earlier initiative to replace the ignition switch for select Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Ion, and four other models. On Monday, GM announced three separate recalls for more than 1.5 million vehicles and also took a $300 million charge off to pay for the repairs.

CEO Video Announcement

GM CEO Mary Barra
GM CEO Mary Barra.
The move surprised some analysts, including those still attempting to decipher the scope of the previous ignition switch recall announcement, a defect that has taken 12 lives. The most recent recalls were announced by GMs CEO, Mary Barra, in a video posted to the company’s website on Monday as well as in a statement to the press.

Though potentially damaging to the brand, GMs move allowed the automaker to set the narrative, avoiding what most certainly would have been a brutal dressing down by the media. Instead, Barra explained that the recalls followed a request for a comprehensive internal safety review, in response to the earlier recall.

GM Share Prices

In pushing these problems out to the light quickly, GM is one step closer to putting everything behind it. The financial write down gives the automaker credibility that they’re on top of the recalls, offering comfort to vehicle owners and shareholders alike. GM stock is selling for above $35 a share, up from $34 when the latest recall announcement was made, but down from its most recent high of $37.75 reached earlier this month.

The three separate recalls involve vehicles across GMs current brand structure as well as one model from retired Saturn.

Three Separate Recalls

The first recall involves 303,000 units of the 2009 to 2014 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans with a gross vehicle weight of under 10,000 pounds. Affected vans do not comply with head impact requirements for unrestrained occupants, requiring a rework of the instrument panel.

The second recall covers 63,900 units of its large 2013 and 2014 Cadillac XTS sedan. That model may experience engine fires if a brake booster pump issue is not resolved. To date, two unsold XTS models have experienced fires and two component meltdowns have been reported.

The third recall is the most comprehensive one and includes some 2008 and 2009, and all 2010 to 2013 GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave models, some 2009 and all 2010 to 2013 Chevrolet Traverse models, and all 2010 Saturn Outlook models. With this recall, a wiring harness for seat mounted side air bags must be replaced. Nearly 1.2 million crossovers are affected.

Response and Recall

In her video announcement, Barra stressed that the company wants to be judged today by the actions it takes to respond to problems by addressing customer concerns. The automaker has dedicated 50 people at its Warren, Mich., customer service facility to handle recall notices. Barra noted that notices for the ignition recall have already gone out with replacement parts becoming available by the second week of April. Recall announcements for the other affected vehicles are being readied as of press time.

Barra confirmed that two separate Congressional committees are looking at the ignition switch recall and noted that the U.S. Department of Justice has also launched an investigation.

In each case we have pledged to cooperate fully while we work to make the recall itself as smooth as possible for our customers, said Barra. She added, These are serious developments that shouldn’t surprise anyone. After all, something went wrong with our process in this instance and terrible things happened.

Making a Personal Connection

Barra noted her own responsibility as GMs CEO and her being a mother, demonstrating how the problems have hit home for her. The company has apologized and made assurances that the problem does not happen again.

By responding proactively, GM demonstrates that will be on top of its problems. More importantly, the video address tells people, we care. That is the takeaway that allows GM to set the narrative.


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Video quotes from General Motors.

Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Cobalt, CROSSOVERS, GM, IGNITION SWITCH, MARRY BARRA, RECALLS, VIDEO

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