Arizona Sues General Motors Over GM Ignition Switch Recall Delays

The attorney general for Arizona has filed a lawsuit against General Motors for economic losses related to the 30 million cars under the GM Ignition switch recall, including the older model GM vehicles with faulty ignition switches.

Arizona’s lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, November 19th under the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act, says the state lost at least $3 billion selling unsafe GM vehicles. About 300,000 cars, trucks, and SUVs registered in Arizona and made by GM have fallen under various GM vehicle recalls this year.

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne said that any amount recovered in the lawsuit would not likely cover the state’s economic losses, but would still be substantial, and could help fund large state programs like education.

This is the first lawsuit against GM filed by a state. Not only does Arizona’s lawsuit ask for coverage of economic lawsuits, but it alleges that the company’s delayed ignition switch vehicle recall endangered motorists, concealed safety defects, and sold consumers vehicles that dropped in value.

“(GM) manufactured and sold millions of vehicles that were not safe, including hundreds of thousands in Arizona, and it failed to remedy serious defects in millions of older GM-branded vehicles,” alleges the complaint filed in Arizona Superior Court in Maricopa County.

The lawsuit is an action independent of 48 other states that are investigating General Motors’ vehicle recall delays. Arizona originally participated in the investigation, but AG Horne said, “I made the decision that my job was to protect Arizona citizens and that I would be doing that better if we moved ahead with the lawsuit.”

In February this year, GM issued a small GM vehicle recall because some older model cars – many dating back to 2004 and 2005, before GM won a bankruptcy filing in 2009 – could have faulty ignition switches. The automobile manufacturer admitted to knowledge of several personal injuries due to crashes from the ignition switch problem, as well as 13 car accident deaths.

Since the initial GM vehicle recall, GM has issued recalls for around 30 million cars, trucks, and SUVs, many of which are directly related to the ignition switch problem. The company set up a compensation fund for victims of the faulty ignition switches as well, with the end of December this year as the deadline for filing for compensation. Through that fund, the company has so far acknowledged over 100 personal injuries directly caused by the ignition switch problem, along with 30 wrongful deaths.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Defective Products and GM Ignition Switch Recall Cases

If you have experienced a problem with a defective product in your automobile, especially if a defective part has led to an auto accident or personal injury, and a proper vehicle recall notice has not been issued, you may be entitled to compensation. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. We can help you with complicated auto insurance claims, and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve to help you with lost income and medical bills. Our attorneys are licensed to practice in South Carolina, Georgia, and New York. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case. Contact us today at (803) 252-4800.