GM’s faulty ignition switch ‘made in China’
Print Edition
GENERAL Motors Co said a defective ignition switch linked to the recall of almost 3.4 million cars was made in China, where another automaker discovered a problem part earlier this year.
The No. 1 carmaker in the United States said in a filing with US safety regulators on Tuesday that the switch used in the Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, Buick LaCrosse and Lucerne, and Cadillac DeVille and DTS cars that were recalled on June 16 was made by China-based Dalian Alps Electronics.
The switch problem is similar to the defect linked to at least 13 deaths in an earlier recall of 2.6 million Chevy Cobalts, Saturn Ions and other cars that led to a record US fine of US$35 million and numerous federal and state investigations.
In both cases, the ignition switch can be jarred out of the “run” position and potentially affect power steering, power brakes and air bags.
Earlier this month, in the most recent switch recall for the Impala and other cars, GM said it was aware of eight crashes and six injuries, but no deaths.
The Detroit-based firm said it will give a more detailed chronology of the recall on or before July 3.
Unlike the recall linked to the 13 deaths, GM said the switches in the most recent one did not need to be replaced, even though they were “slightly” below its specification for torque — the force needed to move the switch out of the run position.
Instead, it said it will replace or rework ignition keys to eliminate a slot in the end of them that allows a dangling key ring to slip to one side and pull the key out of the run position.
In February, British carmaker Aston Martin recalled most of its sports cars built since late 2007 after discovering a Chinese sub-supplier was using a counterfeit plastic material in a part supplied to the company.
During a congressional hearing last week in Washington, Republican Fred Upton released an e-mail chain in which a GM employee, Laura Andres, said in 2005 that an Impala she was driving had experienced an engine stall after hitting a pothole, and warned of a potential recall.
“I think this is a serious safety problem, especially if the switch is on multiple programs. I’m thinking big recall,” Andres said in an e-mail sent to 11 other GM employees.
GM said earlier this month that Ray DeGiorgio, the engineer who designed the defective Cobalt switches, also designed the switches on the latest batch of recalled cars. He was one of 15 officials forced out for their handling of the defective switches in the earlier recall.
On June 13, the company recalled more than half a million Chevy Camaro cars for an ignition switch problem.
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