General Motors (GM) is making news headlines worldwide, but not for favorable reasons. According to recent media reports, the automaker has issued another recall for 200,000 vehicles just one day after recalling 2.4 million cars, raising the total number of vehicles recalled by the manufacturer through May 2014 to more than 13 million. If you or someone you love has been injured or affected by a GM recall, you may have legal recourse. Contact Attorney Group today to learn more about filing a lawsuit and seeking compensation for your injuries.
GM Recall Now Includes More Vehicles
The most recent GM recall now includes 218,000 Chevrolet Aveo subcompact cars, the 29th recall for GM so far this year. This GM recall brings the total number of affected cars in the U.S. to around 13.8 million, breaking the record previously set by the company of 10.75 million through May 2004. The new GM recall covers Aveos from model year 2004 through 2008. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there is a daytime running light unit in the center dashboard console that has the potential to overheat and subsequently melt and catch on fire. GM is reportedly aware of an unspecified number of fires due to the defect, but a spokesman for the company said that it has no knowledge of any injuries or deaths.
On March 30, 2010, the NHTSA opened an investigation into the alleged brake line failures due to corrosion in GM full-size pickups manufactured between 1993 and 2003. According to reports, that investigation was upgraded in January 2011 to determine whether the brake line failures were a GM-specific issue or if the problem occurred throughout the industry. After more than three years, the investigation is still open, making it the second longest investigation in U.S. history and NHTSA’s longest-running open investigation.
GM Recall News Update
After three months of questioning engineers, executives and other GM insiders, former U.S. attorney Anton Valukas is likely to deliver the results of an independent investigation to GM’s CEO, Mary Barra, and the company’s board as early as the first week of June 2014. Although findings of the report will be discussed, sources within GM state that once Barra receives the final report, it is anticipated that she will quickly release the findings. The investigation was launched to determine who knew about the defective ignition switch, and when they first became aware that there was an issue. Additionally, the findings may lend answers as to why GM failed to move quickly to issue a GM recall for the switches in 1.3 million cars manufactured between 2004 and 2008.
On May 16, 2014 the U.S. government fined GM the maximum civil penalty of $35 million after the company had neglected to report fatal ignition switch design defects that led to 13 deaths. According to the NHTSA, the fine was the single highest civil penalty amount ever paid following a NHTSA investigation of violations resulting from a vehicle recall.
The auto maker issued a recall on March 31, 2014 for more than 1.5 million vehicles worldwide after GM found that the electronic power-steering assist may stop working without warning, making the cars difficult, if not impossible, to steer. This second recall brought the automaker’s total number of affected cars to 6.3 million since February 2014, when the company first issued a recall for 2.6 million cars with alleged ignition switch defects. Since then, GM has also issued a recall for 52,000 more vehicles due to a faulty fuel gauge.
Contact Attorney Group Today
If you or someone you love has been injured due to a GM vehicle or if you have questions about the GM recall announcements, Attorney Group can help. We can discuss potential claims on behalf of individuals who feel they may have a case against the automaker. There is no cost to receive a comprehensive case evaluation, and we can help you determine if you are eligible to recover damages for your injuries. We can also connect you with an affiliated attorney who can work to help you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled.