DETROIT – General Motors discussed two separate fixes for an ignition switch defect in 2005 but canceled both of them without taking action, according to a memo released Sunday by the House subcommittee investigating GM’s handling of the defect and a subsequent recall.
GM last month recalled 2.6 million small cars because their ignition switches can move from the “run” to the “accessory” or “off” position, which causes the car to stall and disables the air bags and power steering. GM says the recall is linked to 13 deaths. The recall includes the Chevrolet Cobalt, Chevrolet HHR, Pontiac G5, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Ion and Saturn Sky from the 2003-11 model years.
Congress is investigating why GM didn’t recall the cars sooner because it first found problems with the ignition switches in 2001. It’s also questioning federal regulators from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, who didn’t investigate the cars despite evidence of a problem.
GM CEO Mary Barra and NHTSA Administrator David Friedman are scheduled to appear Tuesday before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee. A separate Senate hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
According to the memo, GM engineers met in February 2005 to consider making changes to the ignition switch after reports it was moving out of position and causing cars to stall. But an engineer said the switch was “very fragile” and advised against changes. In March 2005, the engineering manager of the Cobalt closed the case, saying an ignition switch fix would take too long, cost too much and “none of the solutions represents an acceptable business case.”
In May 2005, the company’s brand-quality division requested a new investigation into ignitions turning off while driving, and a new review suggests changing the design of the key, so it wouldn’t drag down the ignition. That proposal was initially approved but later cancelled.
In a statement released Sunday, GM said it deeply regrets the events leading to the recall.
“We are fully cooperating with NHTSA and the Congress, and we welcome the opportunity to help both have a full understanding of the facts,” the company said.
