Canada is currently investigating General Motors in regards to its handling of the recall of 2.6 million small vehicles with faulty ignition switches. Part of their probe pertains looking into two fatal accidents where vehicles with defective switches were involved, Automotive News reports.
An official with Transport Canada noted the airbags did not deploy in both accidents, a common occurrence in recalled cars with faulty ignition switches. Complaints about the crashes were filed in April of this year and in June 2013. Nine other complaints related to non-fatal incidents were also filed in Canada.
“There were two accidents into which we are currently having investigations which may be related to this defect and this recall and I can confirm that,” Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said in a telephone interview with Reuters.
Last week, the Canadian government announced it was attempting to find out if GM Canada knowingly had cars with faulty ignition switches on the road. GM Canada responded claiming it was not made aware of the situation until parent company GM made the first recall announcement in February.
“If information comes to light that GM Canada is not being truthful with us, we do have the ability to go back and prosecute,” Raitt noted.
At this time, Transport Canada is unsure how it will handle the nine complaints about GM Canada, Raitt said. GM Canada is reportedly cooperating and working closely with the ministry to get to the bottom of the matter.
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