At least 19 deaths now linked to GM ignition switch

General Motors will pay compensation for 19 deaths linked to a faulty ignition switch, according to multiple news sources. This is more than the 13 deaths they originally estimated to have been linked to the GM ignition switch, and some lawmakers have estimate the death toll is close to 100.

According to the Automotive News, independent compensation expert, Kenneth Feinberg said the GM fund has now received 445 claims, including 125 for deaths, 58 for serious injuries and 262 for brief hospitalization or outpatient care. They have since approved 31 claims, including 19 for deaths. According to CNN, most of the remaining claims are still being reviewed. Camille Biros, the deputy administrator of the program, told Automotive News that no claims have been rejected thus far.

GM has admitted knowing about the ignition switch problem for more than a decade, […]

How to find out if your used car has been recalled

It will now be easier for used cars buyers to find out if the car they are purchasing has been involved in a recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a new web tool where you can enter a vehicle’s VIN number to view recalls. You can find it at www.safercar.gov/vinlookup. The site will also show you if the recall work has been completed or not on that particular vehicle. The accuracy of the tool is reliant on receiving regularly updated information from the automakers.

Every year, millions of vehicles are recalled due to safety defects. USA Today reported that 1 in 4 recalled cars never get the recommended recall work done, which could mean potential safety hazards for future car owners. CarFax, an online service that tracks vehicles histories, estimates there are more than 36 million vehicles on U.S. […]

GM issues more recalls for safety issues

General Motors issued six more recalls on Friday totaling more than 312,000 vehicles. The recalls put GM’s total for the year to 66 recalls of just over 29 million cars and trucks.

Friday’s recalls included more than 215,000 Saturn Vue SUVs, 2002 through 2004 model years for an ignition key cylinder problem, saying the keys can be removed when the ignitions are not in the off position and the engine is still running. The problem has been linked to crashes. GM has discontinued this vehicle and the Saturn brand.

Other GM U.S. recalls that were announced Friday include:

• 2013 Cadillac ATS four-door sedans and 2013 Buick Encores in the U.S. for an issue with front seat belt pretensioner cables.
• 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala sedans for a problem with the front console storage compartment latch opening in a rear crash.
• 2009-2010 Chevrolet Aveo and 2008 Pontiac G3 cars because brake fluid may not protect key components against corrosion, […]

GM’s 2nd quarter earnings show $400 million charge taken to compensate victims

General Motors reported last week that it’s 2nd quarter earnings fell by 85%. This huge drop was caused by the financial fallout of its delayed recall of defective vehicles and also a $400 million charge taken to compensate victims of car accidents caused by faulty ignition switches.

The Associated Press reported that recall expenses chopped $1.5 billion from GMs bottom line in the 2nd quarter as it added up the costs of repairs for nearly 30 million cars. GMs safety problems began earlier this year with the recall of 2.6 million Chevy Cobalt and other small cars that had faulty ignition switches. GM knew about the problem for more than ten years before issuing the recall. The company admitted at least 13 people died in crashes caused by the switches, although federal lawmakers say the total could be as high as 100.

According to the New York Times, […]

GM recalls 8.4 million more vehicles, announces compensation

GM recalled another 8.4 million vehicles on Monday, which included more than 8 million for ignition switch defects. The latest recall brings the total vehicles recalled by GM this year alone to 29 million. U.S. News and World Report mentioned that 17.1 million of the recalled vehicles were because of faulty ignition switches.

Some of the latest vehicles recalled date back to 1997 and extend to 2014 models. According to Forbes, vehicles included in the latest recall include the 1997-2005 Chevrolet Malibu, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the automaker admitted it knew of seven crashes, eight injuries and three fatalities involving the cars recalled for the new ignition switch problems. This was essentially the same problem with 2.6 million recalled Chevy Cobalts and other vehicles linked to 13 deaths and 54 accidents. […]