In 2001, General Motors discovered that the ignition switch in one of the company’s cars could move from “on” to “off” while the vehicle was in motion, disabling airbags and making control of the vehicle very difficult. The company later became aware of several deaths associated with this defect, which affected several models.
To save money, GM attempted quick fixes that never actually solved the problem. Meanwhile, defective ignition switches caused more accidents, leaving occupants with no airbags to protect them.
It wasn’t until 2014 – 13 years after GM first discovered the problem – that a recall was issued. It has now become the largest automobile recall in history, encompassing roughly 29 million vehicles and counting.
If you or a loved one was injured when an airbag failed in one of these vehicles, you may be entitled to compensation from GM. Contact Childers, Schlueter & Smith today for a free legal consultation to learn more.
Defective GM Vehicles May Have Killed Hundreds of People
GM claims that the ignition switch defect may have been responsible for as many as 13 deaths. The true total, however, is far greater, based on our confidential information.
- The New York Times reported that 303 people were killed due to failed airbags in the 2005-2007 Chevy Cobalt and the 2003-2007 Saturn Ion.
- Bloomberg reported that 143 people died after airbag failures in the Chevy Impala.
These vehicles represent a small share of the recall that began in February 2014 and continued to grow in subsequent months. If hundreds have been killed, how many more have been hurt?
Affected GM Models with Ignition Switch Defect
The vehicles below have all been recalled due to the ignition switch defect. If you or someone you know was injured when an airbag failed in one of these vehicles, you should contact Childers, Schlueter & Smith today to learn about the compensation that may be available.
Buick
- Lacrosse 2005-2009
- Lucerne 2006–2011
- Regal GS 2004-2005
- Regal LS 2004-2005
Cadillac
- CTS 2003-2014
- Deville 2000–2005
- DTS 2004–2011
- SRX 2004-2006
Chevrolet
- Camaro 2010-2014
- Cobalt 2005-2010
- Cruze 2013-2014
- HHR 2006-2011
- Impala 2006-2014
- Malibu 1997-2005
- Monte Carlo 2006-2008
Oldsmobile
- Alero 1999-2004
- Intrique 1998-2005
Pontiac
- G5 2007-2010
- Grand Am 1999-2005
- Grand Prix 2004-2008
- Solstice 2006-2010
Saturn
- Ion 2003-2007
- Sky 2007-2010
Get Legal Help for GM Defect Injuries
Car makers are responsible for rigorously testing the safety of the vehicles they sell. When a problem is found, a recall needs to be issued to protect the public. In this case, it took GM 13 years to issue that recall. This is not acceptable, and injured drivers and passengers need to hold GM accountable. To do so, they need a fierce group of attorneys at their side.
Contact Childers, Schlueter & Smith today to learn more about our ability to help protect your legal rights and how we may be able to secure compensation on your behalf. We’re prepared to go toe-to-toe with GM to stand up for your safety – and for the safety of everyone on the road.