GM recalls another 2.4 million cars

General Motors recalled an additional 2.4 million vehicles on Tuesday, bringing their 2014 total of recalled vehicles to 14 million. The story was covered widely, totaling 4:40 on all three news networks with online and print coverage including Reuters, the AP, and USA Today. Most of the stories included mention of GM’s faulty ignition switches that caused 13 deaths.

The CBS Evening News reports that GM has issued recalls for almost five times as many cars in 2014 as the company sold in all of 2013. CBS says that GM’s approach to recalls at this point is “if in doubt, recall.” CBS reports that the recalls have cost GM $1.9 billion in 2014 and shares of the company have dropped by nine percent since the start of the ignition switch recall.

NBC Nightly News reports that some of the cars “would not have been recalled in the past but in this case general motors has decided this is the time because of this crisis less announce any recall, let’s get it out of the way.” NBC also reports that owners of used cars may not be aware that their vehicles have been recalled, so owners of GM cars should use Google to see if their vehicle has been recalled. ABC World News briefly reported.

USA Today reports that the vehicles recalled includ 1,339,355 2009-2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Arcadias, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlooks due to potentially worn out seat belts; 1,075,102 2004-08 Chevrolet Malibu and Maxx, 2007-08 Saturn Aura, and 2005-08 Pontiac G6 that can fail to display the correct gear; 58 2015 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMNC Sierra HD due to electric connections that can cause a fire; and 1,402 2015 Cadillac Escalades and Escalade ESVs due to faulty passenger airbags. A separate USA Today wonders if “there are any GM cars that haven’t been recalled,” saying that many of the recalls are “dumb mistakes” such as putting rear brakes on a vehicles front wheels.

The Detroit (MI) Free Press reports that no deaths have been reported in any of the latest recalls, but it is not allowing GM dealers to sell any of the Cadillac Escalades and is advising that nobody sits in the front passenger seats of models already sold until the air bag problem is fixed. A separate Detroit (MI) Free Press  article reports that Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and NHTSA chief David Friedman “urged Congress to increase the maximum potential fine from $35 million to $300 million for failing to report a safety defect within five days of discovering it.”

Bloomberg News reports that the latest round of GM recalls have increased the total number of recalled vehicles in the US to 22.4 million, the most of any year since 2004.

MLive reported just prior to the recall announcement, quoting Foxx from Friday’s announcement of the $35 million fine against GM, saying “Together these penalties should put all automakers on notice that there is no excuse and zero tolerance for failing to notify the federal government when a defect puts safety at risk.”

We believe that obtaining legal satisfaction from those who harmed you shouldn’t require more hardship. That’s why we do everything we can to streamline the process, and we will file a lawsuit on your behalf if necessary. If you or a loved one has been affected by this recall, and you believe it caused an injury, contact Chhabra & Gibbs today by going to www.cglawms.com or by calling this number: 601-948-8005.