GM Issues More Vehicle Recall in First Two Days of 2015
Last February, the automobile manufacturer quietly issued a vehicle recall for around 250,000 cars, trucks, and SUVs, some of which dated back as far as the 2004-2005 model years. The problem, according to GM, was faulty ignition switches. The company also quietly acknowledged that it knew about at least 13 deaths and several serious personal injuries due to crashes caused by the faulty ignition switches.
Consumers and regulators noticed, however, and began to investigate the delayed vehicle recall. By the end of 2014, the company had issued dozens of vehicle recalls covering close to 8 million cars, trucks, and SUVs, at least 2.6 million of which had the faulty ignition switch problem. GM CEO Mary Barra testified before Congress regarding the delayed vehicle recall, and the company set up a compensation fund for victims of ignition switch crashes. GM has so far acknowledged that 42 people were wrongfully killed in crashes caused by the defective ignition switches.
To kick off 2015, GM has issued another vehicle recall due to ignition switch problems – the recall covers 92,221 full-sized trucks and SUVs, which can have ignition switch problems in what the company calls “hot conditions.”
The vehicle recall, announced on Thursday, January 2nd, covers vehicles in model years 2011 and 2012, along with certain models from 2007 and 2014. The affected models are Chevrolet Silverado light-duty and heavy-duty pickups; Avalanche, Tahoe and Suburban; GMC Sierra light-duty and heavy-duty pickups; Yukon and Yukon XL; and Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT. No crashes, injuries, or deaths have been reported in the latest vehicle recall.
On Tuesday, December 2nd, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urged consumers who drive General Motors vehicles to see if their car is part of the vehicle recall that covers almost 4 million cars, trucks, and SUVs, and to immediately have ignition switches replaced.
“NHTSA urges owners of unrepaired GM vehicles to immediately contact their local dealer to arrange a service appointment. GM reports that many dealers will help owners get their vehicles remedied after work and on the weekends,” NHTSA said.
However, General Motors has acknowledged that there may not be enough replacement ignition switches to go around, and some GM customers may have to wait, despite the potential danger of driving their vehicle.
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Every year, thousands of consumers sustain serious injuries from defective products. A defective product lawyer can help you with an injury you may receive. Many of these injuries could be avoided if the manufacturers or distributors of these products took additional steps to ensure consumer safety. Defective products that commonly cause injuries include medical devices, pharmaceutical products, and other defective products such as toys, cars and automotive parts.
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.