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 The recall, which now totals 2,591,665 cars, includes all model
years of the Chevrolet Cobalt, Chevrolet HHR, Saturn Ion, Saturn
Sky, Pontiac G5 and Pontiac Solstice made from 2003-2011.
Older versions of those cars, dating from 2003-2007, were recalled
in February.
Even before the expansion, the recall had sparked investigations by
Congress, federal regulators, the Department of Justice and GM
itself. All are asking why it took GM so long to address an issue
first noted by the company in 2001.
GM said the newer models made after 2007 were equipped with a
redesigned ignition switch, but that some of those cars might have
been repaired with older replacement parts that may be faulty. The
expanded recall includes 824,000 cars in the United States and
971,000 globally, GM said.
GM also is recalling all the replacement ignition switches that have
been sent to U.S. aftermarket distributors, the spare parts market.
About 95,000 faulty switches were sold to dealers and parts
wholesalers.
Reuters reported this week that it was still possible to purchase
GM-brand ignition switches manufactured by Delphi Automotive
carrying the same parts number as the product at the center of the
February recall.
These switches may not be defective, but it is nearly impossible to
tell unless they are taken apart or the manufacturing history is
checked.
GM said Friday that no deaths or injuries have been linked to faulty
ignition switches in the newer models that have been added to the
recall.
GM Chief Executive Mary Barra said Friday that "we are taking no
chances with safety" in replacing the ignition switches on all 2.6
million cars.
Some of the newer cars could have faulty replacement ignitions that
could be switched from "run" to "accessory," shutting down the
engine and disabling the cars' power steering, power brakes and
airbags.
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GM had said on Thursday that the replacement ignition switch it has
ordered from Delphi to use in the earlier recall will bear a new
part number that "eliminates any potential confusion about which
part to use in the repair," according to a company spokesman.
A GM spokesman on Friday said GM decided to recall all the
replacement parts currently in stock at U.S. parts distributors "out
of an abundance of caution."
GM said owners will be notified by mail the week of April 21 and can
have ignition switches replaced for free at dealers "as parts become
available" — a process that is likely to take months because of the
sheer number of vehicles involved.
GM also launched a website,
www.gmignitionupdate.com, to provide
consumers with information on the recall.
GM replaced the Cobalt in 2010 with a newer compact, the Cruze. On
Friday, the automaker told U.S. dealers to stop selling certain 2013
and 2014 Cruze sedans equipped with 1.4-liter engines without saying
why.
(Reporting by Paul Lienert in Detroit; editing by Peter Henderson)
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