The American automobile giant General Motors this week issued a recall for 2.7 million vehicles it produced, bringing the total number of vehicles it has recalled this year, starting in January, to 11 million, all in the United States.
This year, the vehicle recall record set in 2014 of 30.8 million is expected to be broken, and General Motors is also expected to break its own record, also set in 2014, of 11.8 million vehicles.
Several factors have led to the huge number of recalls, the largest of which is the recall of 2.6 million older vehicles for a problem with the ignition switch. According to the company, the malfunction has caused 13 documented deaths.
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The high level of enforcement and media involvement also leads companies to delay recall announcements, for fear of huge fines and damage to public opinion. For example, this week General Motors recalled 2.4 million vehicles - Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura models, manufactured between 2004 and 2012, because the brake light wires may corrode.
13 accidents and two injuries were proven to be caused by the malfunction. The company knew about the failure six years ago, but was content with distributing a brochure to dealers only.
General Motors' damages from the latest recall are estimated at about $200 million, while its damages from all recalls this year are estimated at about $1.3 billion.
In light of the recent problems, General Motors laid off several engineers and safety inspectors. GM shares fell 25 cents upon the announcement.
Last Thursday, General Motors recalled the following vehicles, among others:
• More than 140,000 2014 Chevrolet Malibu are being recalled for vehicle computer repairs, due to a software problem with the brake control that could disable them completely.
• Nearly 112,000 2005-2007 Chevrolet Corvettes whose brake lights may fail are being recalled to have wires replaced. Owners of vehicles from 2008-2013 are also being urged to come in if they have a problem with their brake lights.
• Approximately 19,000 Cadillac CTS Sports whose windshield wipers may stop working in the cold.
• 477 Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks and SUVs whose part connecting the engine to the steering wheel could collapse and cause complete loss of control.
The reading also covers 290,000 vehicles in the rest of the world. A total of 2.9 million vehicles in one reading.
