GM Recall Progress Slow: Only 47,000 Cars Fixed by May
General Motors has replaced just 47,000 ignition switches out of 2.6 million recalled vehicles since February, with full parts availability not expected until October.
General Motors has repaired just 47,000 vehicles out of the 2.6 million recalled for defective ignition switches, three months after the campaign began. The company confirmed the figure in May 2014, highlighting the scale of the challenge it faces in reaching affected owners and completing the necessary work.
The recall, which began in February 2014, covers a wide range of GM models built over several years. The faulty ignition switch can inadvertently move from the 'run' to the 'accessory' position, shutting off the engine and disabling airbags. The defect has been linked to at least 19 fatalities, according to GM disclosures. The company is under considerable regulatory and public scrutiny after it emerged that engineers were aware of the issue for years before the recall was issued.
At the current pace, the repair campaign is expected to stretch well into 2015. GM has told investors it will not have all the necessary replacement parts until October 2014. This has left many owners waiting months for a solution, with dealers unable to complete repairs until the parts arrive. The slow progress has drawn criticism from consumer groups and lawmakers, given the safety implications.
Scale of the recall and comparison to other manufacturers
The GM ignition switch recall is one of the largest in US automotive history. For context, Toyota recalled 6.39 million vehicles globally in 2014 alone for a range of issues, including a 370,000-unit campaign for Sienna minivans over a spare tyre cable fault. Other manufacturers have also issued large recalls in recent years, but GM's situation is unusual due to the defect's link to fatalities and the delay in addressing it.
- Toyota: 6.39 million vehicles recalled globally in 2014
- GM: 2.6 million vehicles recalled for ignition switch defect
- BMW: 176,000 cars recalled for power brake defect (see /recall-roundup-bmw-calls-in-176000-vehicles)
GM has warned investors to expect further recalls through the summer as it continues to review older models and sift through historical data. This ongoing scrutiny is likely to keep the company in the spotlight and may affect both dealer operations and customer confidence for months to come.
Impact on owners and dealers
Owners of affected vehicles face uncertainty and inconvenience, with some waiting months for repair appointments. Dealers are fielding calls from concerned customers but can do little until parts shipments ramp up. GM has advised drivers to use only the ignition key, without additional keychains or accessories, to reduce the risk of an unintended engine shutdown until the repair is completed.
