Feds Probing GM Response to Ignition Switch Defect
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether the automaker took appropriate actions in a timely enough manner to satisfy federal regulations.
by Staff
March 14, 2014
The 2004 Saturn Ion is included in GM's safety recall. Photo courtesy of General Motors.
2 min to read
The 2004 Saturn Ion is included in GM's safety recall. Photo courtesy of General Motors.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in New York has begun investigating General Motors' overall response to incident reports that eventually led to this year's ignition switch recall.
The ignition switch problem prompted a worldwide safety recall of 1.62 million 2003-2007 model-year GM vehicles. At issue now is whether the automaker disclosed the problem and issued the recall in a timely enough manner to comply with federal regulations.
Ad Loading...
The recall covers all 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR, 2005-2006 Pontiac Pursuit (Canada), 2006-2007 Pontiac Solstice and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles.
Delphi Automotive manufactured the ignition switches. Under certain conditions, they can move out of the "run" position and into "accessory" or "off," leading to a partial loss of electrical power and turning off the engine. This condition can also disable airbags, power brakes and power steering, reports Reuters.
The problem is more likely to occur if the car key ring carries additional weight or the car is traveling on a bumpy road, according to GM. The defect has been linked to 13 deaths.
Two congressional committees are also conducting probes into the actions of both General Motors and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Meanwhile, NHTSA has launched an investigation of its own. The recall is seen as the first test for incoming CEO Mary Barra, who is expected to testify before Congress, reports the Detroit News.
For more information about the safety recall and remedy, click here.
Distracted driving remains one of the most persistent risks in fleet operations. New approaches focus on removing mobile device use entirely while adding real-time safety support.
As distraction risks evolve, fleets are turning to smarter, more connected technologies to better understand what’s happening behind the wheel. Part 2 explores how these tools are helping identify risky behaviors and improve visibility across operations.
Distracted driving is often measured by what we can see—phones in hand, eyes off the road. But what about the distractions we can’t? A recent incident raises a bigger question about awareness, attention, and why subtle risks so often go unnoticed.
Fleets have more driver data than ever, so why isn't behavior changing? Training requires more than reports and coaching — it requires real-world practice.
A two-part conversation with Stefan Heck on how AI is transforming the fight against distracted driving. As fleets adopt smarter tools, the focus shifts from reacting to preventing risk. In Part 1, we look at where AI is making an impact for fleets today.
An 11% drop in pedestrian fatalities in early 2025 signals progress in U.S. road safety, but elevated death rates and ongoing risks underscore the need for continued action from fleets and policymakers.
