General Motors is continuing its recall blitz with a sudden announcement that over 8,400,000 vehicles on the road in North America will need to have faulty parts replaced, some of which are older than the company’s youngest customers on the road today. It brings the recall total this year to 28.9 million vehicles, more than the company has sold in the last three years combined.
Among these recalled vehicles, GM is aware of seven crashes, eight injuries and three fatalities. The fatal crashes occurred in older model full-size sedans being recalled for inadvertent ignition key rotation. Though GM states that there is no conclusive evidence that the defect condition caused those crashes.
Former GM ignition switch engineer Ray DeGiorgio, who was among 15 people fired for their role in the ignition switch scandal involving the Chevrolet Cobalt and others, was also involved in the design of some, but not all of the newly recalled cars.
What’s more, trading in General Motors stock was suspended on the New York Stock Exchange while the announcement was made. GM was quick to mention that this recall hurricane that has been storming since the end of winter will begin to subside going forward. The company also expects to take a $1.2 billion hit this quarter, up from $700 million, because of these recalls. Wall Street wonders if GM will even post a profit for this quarter at this point.
“We undertook what I believe is the most comprehensive safety review in the history of our company because nothing is more important than the safety of our customers,” said GM CEO Mary Barra. “Our customers deserve more than we delivered in these vehicles. That has hardened my resolve to set a new industry standard for vehicle safety, quality and excellence.”
 The Problems:
“Unintended key rotation:”
1997-2005 Chevrolet Malibu
1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrique
1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero
1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am
2000-05 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo
2004-08 Pontiac Grand Prix
2003-14 Cadillac CTS
2004-06 Cadillac SRX
“Engine block heater power cord (if equipped) may become damaged under very cold conditions”
2011-14 Chevrolet Cruze; 2012-14 Chevrolet Sonic
2013-14 Chevrolet Trax, Buick Encore and Verano
“Some vehicles my not have had a ‘Superhold’ joint fastener tightened to spec from the factory”
2014 Chevrolet Camaro and Impala, Buick Regal, Cadillac XTS
Electrical fire risk
2007-11 Chevrolet Silverado HD, GMC Sierra HD equipped with an auxiliary battery
Possible electrical short in driver’s door module that could disable power door locks
2005-07 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender, Saab 9-7x
2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT, GMC Envoy XL
Number Of Affected Vehicles:
7,554,458 in the United States, 8,448,005 total in North America
The Solution:
GM dealers will be responsible for making the necessary repairs and replacements. And until the ignition recall repairs have been performed, GM stresses that customers should remove all items from their key ring, leaving only the vehicle key, and always use their seat belts. The key fob, if present, should also be removed from the key ring.
Comments
I am guessing any ignition switch every designed by DeGiorgio will be recalled.
This is going way overboard, as things have for the last few recalls. But Mary has it dead on her mind to lead the industry in safety and customer confidence which is not a bad thing. It’s just that GM shares will drop because profits won’t be there.
A safety recall because the power door locks may not work? Seriously?
My car does not even have power locks.
No anything that hints at a safety defect in the last 25 years will be addressed.
Some of the recalls would have or were just TSB issues but GM is cleaning the slate.
Lets face it they are Damned if they do and Damned if they don’t. If you are going to do anything you are going to recall to the point that you eliminate nearly anything that hints as a potential issue.
Most of this is BS stuff an I hate to see them have to do this but they have no choice because of the bias in the media.
Better to shake those skeletons out of the closet, lest GM have someone else do it for them, publicly.
I wonder how many 1990s Ford, Dodge, and Toyota models have flawed parts? Olds & Pontiac are old GM and while I respect the effort, it’s a bit much at this point.
I just got rid of my 1999 Grand Am this year which would have been on the recall list. I never kept anything but the key and the fob on the keychain ring.
It was on its third ignition switch and second ignition key cylinder. It had repeated failures of the Passlock system and had problems starting. I even lost all engine and accessory power one time but I managed to coast into a mall entrance off the main road. It was frightening and embarrassing at the same time. My knees never came close to hitting anything to do with the ignition.
I always brought it to an independent mechanic, never to a dealer. It cost me into the thousands in ignition repairs alone in the time I owned it. The car is now Ford of Canada’s problem. I wonder if they will get the recall notice and take it in to have it fixed.