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GM CEO Testifying on Ignition Switch Recall Investigation

Posted at 4:55 AM, Apr 01, 2014
and last updated 2014-04-01 04:56:45-04
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 1, 2014) — The CEO of General Motors, Mary Barra, is expected to apologize on Tuesday for the pain caused by faulty ignition switches, in testimony before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.

In testimony posted on the committee’s website on Monday, Barra said she does not yet have answers to why GM took more than 10 years to catch the faulty switch.

“More than a decade ago, GM embarked on a small car program,” says Barra in the expected testimony. “Sitting here today, I cannot tell you why it took years for a safety defect to be announced in that program, but I can tell you that we will find out.”

She goes on to discuss the defective ignition switches linked to at least 13 deaths, and mentions that she has asked its supplier to boost production of replacement parts to speed the recall.

Barra is expected to face some tough questions from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, headed by Representative Fred Upton (R-MI).  According to CNN, GM has not told families of the deceased that their family members’ fatal crash is tied to the problem.  Federal safety investigators have ordered the automaker to turn over additional information on the recall, including details of every related accident, injury or fatality, by April 3.

The initial recall had to do with a faulty ignition switch and has now expanded to include all model years of the following:

  • Chevrolet Cobalt
  • Chevrolet HHR
  • Pontiac G5
  • Pontiac Solstice
  • Saturn Ion
  • Saturn Sky

Here is a list of the affected models in the latest power steering recall, which affects at least 1.3 million vehicles, according to GM:

  • Chevrolet Malibu: All model year 2004 and 2005, and some model year 2006 and model year 2008 and 2009 vehicles
  • Chevrolet Malibu Maxx: All model year 2004 and 2005, and some 2006 model year
  • Chevrolet HHR (Non-Turbo): Some model year 2009 and 2010 vehicles
  • Chevrolet Cobalt: Some model year 2010 vehicles
  • Saturn Aura: Some model year 2008 and 2009 vehicles
  • Saturn ION: All model year 2004 to 2007 vehicles
  • Pontiac G6: All model year 2005, and some model year 2006 and model year 2008 and 2009 vehicles
  • Service parts installed into certain vehicles before May 31, 2010 under a previous safety recall

Below are links for additional information that GM customers may be seeking.

General Motors Official Website on the Ignition Switch Recall

GM CEO Mary Barra Testimony (pdf)