Faulty Ignition Switch Can Cut Off Power and Disable Airbags

Posted on
Tagged
#interior #engine #recall

This post originally appeared on chevroletproblems.com

In February, 2014, General Motors recalled 1.6 million vehicles because of a faulty ignition switch that has been linked to the deaths of 13 people. To make matters worse, the company may have known about the defect for over a decade. Now, members of Congress are investigating whether GM broke any laws while waiting so long to inform the public.

In February, 2014, GM finally announced a recall of 780,000 vehicles for the ignition switch problem, expanding it to over 1 million vehicles just a couple weeks later. According to documents filed to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) , the problem is caused by the torque performance of the ignition switch.

The Affected Pontiac Vehicles ∞

MakeModelYears
ChevroletCobalt2005-2007
ChevroletHHR2006-2007
PontiacG52007
PontiacSolstice2006-2007
SaturnIon2003-2007
SaturnSky2006-2007

Generations Where This Problem Has Been Reported

This problem has popped up in the following Saturn generations.

Most years within a generation share the same parts and manufacturing process. You can also expect them to share the same problems. So while it may not be a problem in every year yet, it's worth looking out for.

  1. 1st Generation Ion

    Years
    2003–2007
    Reliability
    31st of 34
    PainRank™
    12.28
    Complaints
    330
    Continue

  2. 1st Generation Sky

    Years
    2007–2010
    Reliability
    25th of 34
    PainRank™
    2.48
    Complaints
    19
    Continue

Further Reading

A timeline of stories related to this problem. We try to boil these stories down to the most important bits so you can quickly see where things stand. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts for your vehicle over at CarComplaints.com.

OK, Now What?

Maybe you've experienced this problem. Maybe you're concerned you will soon. Whatever the reason, here's a handful of things you can do to make sure it gets the attention it deserves.

  1. File Your Complaint

    CarComplaints.com is a free site dedicated to uncovering problem trends and informing owners about potential issues with their cars. Major class action law firms use this data when researching cases.

    Add a Complaint

  2. Notify CAS

    The Center for Auto Safety (CAS) is a pro-consumer organization that researches auto safety issues & often compels the US government to do the right thing through lobbying & lawsuits.

    Notify The CAS

  3. Report a Safety Concern

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the US agency with the authority to conduct vehicle defect investigations & force recalls. Their focus is on safety-related issues.

    Report to NHTSA