Attorney: GM Recall Delay Responsible for Six Deaths

Advertisement

1000px-General_Motors.svgA lawsuit against General Motors (GM) accuses the automaker of failing to respond to a known defect in two compact cars that resulted in multiple deaths.

According to the lawyer behind the suit, a GM engineer discovered a flaw in its Chevy Pontiac G5 and Chevy Cobalt vehicles that could cause the ignition to slip into the “off” position back in 2004. Vehicles with the defect could suddenly lose braking and steering power after the engine suddenly shut off while in use, CNN Money notes.

Worse, airbag systems would be disable if the ignition slipped into the “off” setting, leaving drivers unprotected in the event of a crash.

Despite being aware of the problem, GM only issued a recall for the affected vehicles this month, a decade after it learned of the problem. Automakers are required by law to report defects to safety regulators no more than five days after they are identified.

GM says that six people have been killed in accidents linked to the defect.

The attorney representing one victim’s family says that more GM vehicles aside from the Cobalt Pontiac are affected by the problem.

GM stock fell modestly in Friday morning trading. GM stock has gained more than 35% over the past year.

More General Motors News:

 


Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2014/02/attorney-gm-recall-delay-responsible-six-deaths/.

©2024 InvestorPlace Media, LLC