Top

GM Recalls Vehicles a Decade After Known Ignition Switch Defect

GM Recalls Vehicles a Decade After Known Ignition Switch Defect

|

GM Recalls Vehicles a Decade After Known Ignition Switch Defect

BLOG

GM has recalled 778,000 vehicles this month due to an ignition switch defect. The affected models are the 2005 to 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2007 Pontiac G5. A lawsuit stemming from a 2010 accident that killed a woman in Georgia has brought about new information on the defect, which GM allegedly first identified in 2004.
The defect can cause the car’s ignition to switch out of the “on” position causing the engine to cease. This can result in the loss of braking assistance, steering, and airbag deployment. The defect has been linked to 17 injuries and 6 deaths, including the death of two teenage girls in Wisconsin in 2006, in which investigators found that the ignition switch was found in the accessory position and the airbags never deployed.
In a response to CBS News on why the recall wasn’t issued a decade ago, the GM said: “The incident rate was very low with no growing trend.”
2005 Chevy Cobalt

The Recalled GM Models

The Cobalt is a compact sedan that was produced for the 2004-2010 model years. There are still more than a half million Cobalts on the roads. While the Cobalt and G5 were the only models recalled to date, the ignition switch defect could affect other models.
GM has not ruled out a wider recall and is in talks with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). By law, automakers who fail to report vehicle safety concerns to the NHTSA within five business days are subject to a $35 million fine.
GM models that have not been recalled but were identified in a GM service bulletin to dealers related to defect are the 2006 and 2007 Pontiac Solstice and Chevrolet HHR, the 2007 Saturn Sky, and the 2003 to 2007 Saturn ION. In total, an additional 650,000 cars on the roads may be affected by this potentially fatal product defect.

SCHEDULE YOUR FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION

NO RECOVERY/NO FEE | 24 Hours a day

Awards & Recognitions

Communities We Serve

Located in Normandy Park, between Seattle and Tacoma, the personal injury lawyers at Bishop Law Offices represent clients throughout Washington, the Puget Sound, and Vashon Island, including the cities of Burien, Seattle, Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue, Tacoma, Federal Way, Auburn, Kent, Everett, SeaTac, Normandy Park, Des Moines, Renton, Tukwila, Newcastle, Covington, Puyallup, Lakewood, and Gig Harbor, as well as the communities in and around King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties.

CALL TOLL FREE

SiteLock

*The case examples on this website are from specific cases handled by Bishop Legal. They do not indicate the likelihood of any outcome in your own case. Each case is unique, and you should consult with an attorney to get a better sense of the value of your own case.

Copyright © 2025. bishoplegal is a registered trade name of Bishop Law Offices, P.S. All Rights Reserved.

we're listening

you deserve to be heard
  • By submitting, you agree to receive text messages from Bishop Legal at the number provided, including those related to your inquiry, follow-ups, and review requests, via automated technology. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency may vary. Reply STOP to cancel or HELP for assistance. Acceptable Use Policy