General Motors’ ignition switch recall prompted many analysts to believe the automaker would move exclusively to push-button start. But, that hasn’t been the case.
Automotive News reported on Sunday that the number of GM vehicles not offered with push-button start sits at 19 percent in the United States. Across the automotive industry, push-button start isn’t optional or standard on 18 percent of new vehicles. It’s an improvement from the 24 percent of vehicles not offered with the feature, but there are reasons behind the automaker’s move to not go all-in on push-button start.
Foremost, the feature adds cost to any vehicle, and for small cars it’s a lose-lose scenario in a market yearning for crossovers, trucks and SUVs.
Notably, GM is adding push-button start to high-end trims for the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and 2019 GMC Sierra. Many of the pickups’ trims will still house a traditional ignition, however.
“There are some customers, notably fleets, who still want keyed ignitions, so those will continue to be available on some models and trims,” GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson told AN.
Push-button start may eliminate problems similar to GM’s faulty ignition switches, which were linked to 124 deaths, but they also bring their own problems. Some vehicles fail to shut off if left unattended, which has led to a spike in carbon monoxide deaths.
Comments
It’s a novelty more than anything anyways, the minimal convenience is offset by the added safety and security issues
Security? Safety? So the ease of leaving a vehicle running or leaving your keys in it is safe? Security, I guess you did not see how thief’s stole a Mercedes by getting the code being put out by the keys (they are always putting out a signal near the door) in their driveway on camera? Then there is the hassle of having the keys in your pocket which sucks or having to take them out and find a place for them. Not a fan, more downsides than up with push button start, give me a key…
Overwhelming majority LOVE this feature with many saying they have passed on certain models because push button wasn’t offered…There’s no debate its more convenient and we’re probably a year or two away from the key moving to the smartphone…We could apply your logic to the “good ole days” where keyless entry didn’t exist and you had one key to get into the vehicle and another for the ignition as that would provide maximum safety and security and still a minimal convenience…
In the GM world, you have far more to worry about with OnStar security since the world’s most talented hackers can work their magic from their basement…
Like it or not, this is classic GM…Almost all new GM platforms have the push button as an option, it’s the older platforms that GM elected not to update that still don’t have push button starts…”Fleet” trims are generally not sold the public and are often difficult to locate on consumer sites so is a completely different discussion…
for the record, none of the 124 people mentioned in the lawsuit who were killed were sober. all had alcohol or drug abuse. The Ignition lawsuit was lawyer bait with no real negligence. Car and driver tried to replicate the ignition problem, and they had to almost destroy the car to get the effect.
From beginning to end, this comment is so wrong that’s why I enjoy being here…
No he is right. Yes there was an issue with ignition turning off and that is it. You can still brake and steer the car if you were in sound mind at the time. this is just like the people claim there car was accelerating and they can’t stop. Just put in neutral or turn the car off. A Lot of people can’t change a tire so i’m not surprised most have no idea how to stop a moving vehicle.
Google the 124 death toxicology reports, google GM firing 8 executives and 7 non-executives or google the estimated $2.5B GM has spent over this ignition scandal…
Not only that, but many had 5 to 10 lbs of junk attached to the key. It should be common sense that when you have a 18 inch long lanyard just waiting to snag on something, 20 extra keys, a bottle opener or two, photos of their dog, wind chimes, and dreamcatchers, all attached to the key that determines if your car is on or off, there’s a significant safety issue. That 5-10lbs of weight, hanging from the corner of the key acts as a really nice lever for rotating the key’s position. Add alcohol to the equation and the odds of an accident are even worse.
What really gets me is that the GM ignition switch is really a small cover up compared to many past defects from other companies. Every manufacturer has safety defects they have never made public. Just look at Toyota. There were documents from Japanese management that prpved they knew their cars had an accelerator pedal defect that would cause it to get stuck in a depressed position. They did nothing and tried to obscure the issue by blaming it on floor mats.
It’s always about the $$$. Put it in the Colorado/Canyon GM.
I have driven both keyed and push Button ignition system vehicles. I am “old school” and I still prefer the ignition key.
To quote Lemmy “If you like to gamble, I tell you I’m your man You win some, lose some, all the same to me”
The truth is this was just a return to the past with a twist. Years ago the cars started with a start button. They also had them on the floor so is that next?
I have both and it really makes little difference to me and to others it is a mix.
The way it should be handled is just make it an option and let people chose and if they want it pay for it.
They may go back to a key again in the future when others want to be different.
It is much like Dr Seuss story the Star Belly Sneetches. It was a simple child’s story but it teaches so much about weak minded got to have it human nature.
As for the Ignition deal that is a whole different story. While the engine can cut out the steering is functional and brakes retain power assist and even will still stop with none. You only needed to be sober. Others had issues of speed, no belts and I know one case was tossed due to fraud before it even got started.
Many of these people would die key or button. Odds are they would be the one to leave the car running being drunk if they even made it home to the garage.
What next is the key moving to the smartphone which is already deployed in Maven (GM will most likely provide a tradition keyfab for backup) and E-Shifters…Terrain already has a push button e-shifter, if you’re in “Drive”, come to a complete stop, press the power on/off the car will shift into park for you…The Bolt EV has a e-shifter, it goes a step further where you can be in “Drive”, come to a complete a stop and there’s some sequence where you open the door and/or remove your seatbelt and it will both shift into park and turn off the vehicle…Main driver for e-shifters are that they weigh far less than their mechanical counterparts…
The reality is yes they an lose weight with E shifters. Yes they can free up space.
But they also can create issues with people that have been trained to use an older universal system for decades upon decades.
The shifter deal is up for debate as while GMC uses a button like an old Chrysler and Edsel. Some use a knob like the Chryslers and others. Yet many are just using a shifter lever like we have had with no mechanical connection.
When dealing with the public you can run into trouble and criticism when you change some things that are just second nature to most people. In their eyes it was not broke so why fix it. We have seen this over the many years and often these systems come go and come back again.
Thinks like the knob in the Ram trucks is not a favorite of the snow plow drivers. Also it killed the guy from the Star Trek movie when he failed to get it into park.
When making changed an engineer told me once you can not make it fool proof you have to make it idiot proof. What he said to me that day has proven so true over the years.
You can fool proof the product but you can not fool proof the customers.
Like anything, poorly executed anything is bad…The FCA e-shifter was poorly executed and still exists, the “fix” has only been when the door is open it won’t roll away…Then in 2016 they replaced the shifter with a more traditional style shifter which was electronic…
Lowest common denominator syndrome…
Having a key-fob might be even safer than the usage of a physical key given that you can program cars to not start unless everyone is wearing their seat belts and that their doors are securely closed; further, you can possibly set limits to how a car performs when given to a parking attendant or teenager.
Really….this is a great feature. No more leaving keys in the ignition or losing/ forgetting those keys left in the seat and having your key ring look like the janitors key ring with a gazillion keys stuffed into your pants pocket or hooked to a belt loop or the high school student that has twenty or more gadgets hanging on the key chain…really. if you are one of those, I can sell you 86 Buick so you can join that club. Leave new inventions to people that can handle new tech.
People that need keys need their blanket…
There are safety options built in and extra options to add. If you delete the factory options or change them, that is your fault.
Big advocate for the push button.
You can rag on me but I don’t give….
Next thing, those same folks will complain about HIDs….
I HATE THE PUSH BUTTON START. I SWORE I WOULD NEVER GET ONE, BUT MY WIFE WANTED A CRV WITH ONE. I HATE DRIVING THAT CAR. THE PERSON WHO INVENTED THE PUSH BUTTON START SHOULD BE SHOT. TORTURE FIRST AND SHOT.