General Motors LLC is facing a new product liability claim regarding ignition switch failure and failed airbag deployment, from a Tennessee woman alleging these defects caused her to sustain serious injuries during a car accident.

The woman decided to file legal action against the automobile company after discovering the company knew a number of their cars suffered from potential ignition switch failure and airbag deployment failure.

Plaintiff Summer J. alleges her car’s ignition switch failure caused her to get into an accident on April 14, 2011, leading to sustained multiple serious injuries including spinal fracture.

Summer alleges the ignition switch in her 2005 Cadillac CTS vehicle failed, and the car’s front airbag’s failure to deploy during the accident and ultimately put her at higher risk for injury.

Summer’s GM ignition switch lawsuit alleges the defective ignition switch slot could not withstand typical movement or pressure from key chains and could be moved even with the slight tap from the knee.

This bump allegedly caused the ignition switch to suddenly turn off while Summer was driving, which also switched off the car’s other safety features. While it is not known why the ignition switch failure occurred, Summer alleges it may be linked to inadequate torque performance or the keylock’s module position on the steering column.

Summer alleges General Motors knew about the risks of airbag deployment failure and ignition switch failure since the early 2000s but did not warn the public against these problems until 2014.

Overview of GM Ignition Switch Failure

General Motors recalled vehicles allegedly affected by the GM ignition switch failure in 2014, affecting approximately 13.8 million vehicles in the United States. Over 100 deaths have been linked to this GM ignition switch defect.

The total number of cars recalled for the GM ignition switch failure reached 15.8 million, with over 29 vehicle recalls issued after General Motors faced increasing public criticism and class action lawsuits over the alleged gross negligence.

In addition to facing intense legal action from consumers, General Motors is being fined $35 million by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and is facing an investigation from the United States Department of Justice, Congress, and inquiries from several states.

According to the GM ignition switch recall, vehicles that may contain the defective ignition switch include:

• Buick Lacrosse 2005-2009
• Buick Lucerne 2006-2011
• Cadillac CTS 2003-2011
• Cadillac DeVille 2000-2005
• Cadillac DTS 2006-2011
• Cadillac SRX 2004-2006
• Chevy Camaro 2010-2014
• Chevy Cobalt 2005-2010
• Chevy HHR 2006-2011
• Chevy Impala 2000-2014
• Chevy Malibu 1997-2003
• Chevy Malibu Classic 2004-2005
• Chevy Monte Carlo 2000-2007
• Oldsmobile Alero 1999-2004
• Oldsmobile Intrigue 1998-2002
• Pontiac G5 2007-2010
• Pontiac Grand Am 1999-2005
• Pontiac Grand Prix 2004-2008
• Pontiac Solstice 2006-2010
• Saturn ION 2003-2007
• Saturn Sky 2007-2010

Summer states she would not have purchased the Cadillac CTS vehicle if she had known the risk of an ignition switch failure and front airbag deployment failure.

This GM Ignition Switch Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-01796-JMF, in the U.S. District Court of Southern New York.

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