General Motors is accused of covering up ignition switch defects that have led to preventable GM car accidents.

At least 15 fatalities have been linked to the issue, and GM has paid millions of dollars in settlements.

For years, GM denied anything wrong with the ignition switches, yet the design was changed in 2006 so that 2007 models had improved reliability.

GM Car Accidents Linked to Stalling Ignitions

When a key is placed into the ignition and turned, the torque needed to turn the key is measurable. When the key is turned, a small metal pin with a spring called a detent plunger provides tension to keep the key in proper position.

The length of the detent plunger in the 2005 Cobalt was 10.6 millimeters. The detent plungers in Cobalts released in 2007 and later are 12.2 millimeters long.

That small difference in thickness made a huge difference in safety. The 2005’s key could be jiggled into the off position if a knee hit it or if a dangling keychain was too heavy, even if the car was already on and moving down the road.

In addition, tests showed the older ignition switch required only half the torque (force) to turn compared to the newer switch.

By suddenly switching to the off position while going down the road, the engine would stall, and both power steering and power brakes would fail. A driver could easily lose control of the car.

GM Allegedly Knew of Bad Ignition Link to GM Car Accidents

Documents show that GM engineers allegedly saw the ignition switch problem that caused engines to stall as far back as 2001. GM not only ignored the problem, but also added the bad ignition switch to other cars on the production line.

In 2004, a GM engineering manager caused the engine to stall when his knee knocked the key out of place while he was on a test drive of a Cobalt.

He reported the issue and suggested changing the design, but his suggestions were rejected based on the high cost. One of his solutions would have only cost 57 cents per part.

Another GM engineer, who was the lead engineer that oversaw the team that designed the Cobalt’s ignition switches, denied for years that there was anything wrong with the earlier design.

He also denied knowing that the ignition switch’s detent plunger was lengthened in future models in order to avoid future GM car accidents.

However, proof in the form of an email shows that instead of delaying manufacturing and fixing the part, he wrote to “do nothing.” He signed the email, “Tired of the switch from hell” along with his name.

Company Pays Fines, Settlements, Due to GM Car Accidents

GM  has paid $900 million in fines for concealing safety defects and has set aside $575 million in civil settlements.

You could have been in a GM car accident because of a faulty part and not even been aware of it at the time.

If you have been in an accident and suffered because of possibly faulty GM parts and manufacturing, you could benefit from a class action lawsuit.