It has been a challenging year thus far for General Motors. In February the company issued a recall of more than 2.5 million vehicles after ten years of consumer complaints about faulty ignition switches caught up with it. Several GM models had been built with ignition switches that shut off spontaneously while being driven. The defect also rendered the vehicle air bags ineffective as well. According to a report by GM itself, at least 13 deaths are linked to the faulty switches in more than 50 crashes.

GM also stated that one of the probable causes of the ignition problem was that the key fobs may have been adversely affected by the added weight of extra keys on a key ring. This added weight could cause the key to move in such a way that it would shut off the engine if the car hit a bump or pothole in the road.

If you have been injured in an automobile accident involving a defective vehicle, or a vehicle which had defective parts, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Call the accident attorneys at Danbury accident attorneys – Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP  now for an immediate consultation. 58 Post Road Danbury, CT 06810    (888) 244-5480  

Today’s consumer has come to the sobering realization that many of the country’s largest and most respected manufacturers repeatedly produce products which are dangerous and even deadly.  This realization has come as a result of revelations regarding everything from medications to household products.  And with recent disclosures relating to General Motors’ failure to protect the consumer from defects in millions of automobiles it manufactured, many consumers are left wondering who they can trust.

General Motors knew about at least two significant defects in the automobiles the company manufactured as far back as 2004, but failed to recall the vehicles or notify the public of the dangers for nearly a decade.  One of the defects, which affected the ignition systems of over 2.3 million cars, caused the automobiles to spontaneously lose power while in operation.  The other defect caused automobiles to spontaneously lose power steering capabilities.  All told, at least 12 people lost their lives as a result of the defects.

It is now well known and well documented that General Motors received ample evidence of the problems, and simply failed to act.  For example, a 2011 NHTSA report indicated that approximately 4,800 complaints had been filed about the power steering issue, and over 30,000 warranty claims had been submitted.  Despite the government’s investigation into the problem, even it failed to require General Motors to recall defective vehicles.

Now General Motors faces yet another lengthy period of attempting to regain its customers’ trust.  In the meantime, the company will be working its way through the costs of two major recalls, numerous lawsuits relating to deaths and injuries stemming from the defects, and likely a large sanction by the government.