General Motors has issued another recall due to ignition switch problems, according to CNN Money. The recall of 3.36 million vehicles now brings the total number of recalls this year to more than 20 million from GM alone.
GM is taking some precautions with this latest batch of recalls, as the newest inquiry has been linked to eight crashes and six injuries. The ignition switch problem, which occurs when the switch is dislodged and the power steering is turn off, has been seen in model years 2000 through 2014. Those cars include the Chevrolet Impala, Buick Lacrosse, and the Cadillac DeVille and DTS.
This is not the first time the Detroit-based automaker has had ignition switch difficulties for some of its models. A recall was issued earlier this year for 2.6 million Chevrolet Cobalts and other smaller models. Thirteen deaths were linked to those problems. Fred Upton, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, said the number of recalls is starting to raise some concerns.
“This latest recall raises even more questions about just how pervasive safety problems are at GM,” Upton said. “This is not just a Cobalt problem. Drivers and their families need to be assured that their cars are safe to drive.”
GM announced that drivers can take their cars into local dealers to get their automobiles fixed, but some owners are not pleased with the progress that has been made in this regard. Mark Rigby, who is the service manager for Tim Lally Chevrolet in Bedford, Ohio, told The New York Times his dealership has a waiting list of 1,400 customers with recalled cars and can only complete 30 repairs a day because he is not getting the necessary items to fix the ignition switches.
The problems have gotten so bad that GM is currently under investigation from federal lawmakers to find out why this problem has not been solved yet. And GM is facing several lawsuits regarding the injuries and failure to take care of the problem in a prompt manner.
When an accident occurs because of a faulty product or a customer is injured on the premises of a business, companies could be sued for negligence. These lawsuits can cost a lot and be difficult for some business owners to afford businesses can sign up for liability insurance for financial and legal protection if a customer is injured by their products.
