DETROIT (AP) — General Motors excluded the Saturn Ion
from a Feb. 13 recall for faulty ignition switches after engineers
inexplicably failed to look at fatal crashes involving the compact car.
The
cars were recalled two weeks later, after another inquiry found four
crashes involving 2004 Ions that killed four people, according to a GM
chronology of the recall posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration website Wednesday night.
According to the
chronology, GM employees were told about most of the Ion crash deaths
within two weeks of when they occurred. So GM knew about the deaths but
still failed to consider them until this year.
The exclusion of
the crash deaths will likely be scrutinized by two congressional
committees and the Justice Department, all of which are investigating
why it took so long for GM to recall the cars. The company has
acknowledged knowing about deadly ignition switches at least a decade
ago, yet it failed to recall 1.6 million compact cars until last month.
In addition, NHTSA is investigating whether GM withheld information from
the safety agency or didn’t disclose it as quickly as required by law.
The
chronology didn’t say why the engineers excluded the Ion crash deaths
from their inquiry, which took place in 2011. GM spokesman Greg Martin
said he could not comment on why the Ion crashes were left out. He said
GM added to the recall after a review of data including crashes.
"Today’s
GM is fully committed to learning from the past while embracing the
highest standards for quality and performance now and in the future," he
said in a statement.
On Feb. 13, GM announced the recall of more
than 780,000 Cobalts and Pontiac G5s (model years 2005-2007). Two weeks
later it added 842,000 Ion compacts (2003-2007), and Chevrolet HHR SUVs
and Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky sports cars (2006-2007). All of the
recalled cars have the same ignition switches.
The company said
the ignition switches can wear from heavy, dangling keys. If the key
chains are bumped or people drive on rough surfaces, the switches can
suddenly change from the "run" position to "accessory" or "off." That
cuts off power-assisted steering and brakes and could cause drivers to
lose control.
Also, the air bags may not inflate in a crash and protect
the driver and passengers.
The company is urging people not to put anything on their key rings until the switches are replaced.
The
chronology also hints at problems with the ignition switches surfacing
as early as 2001 as the Ion was being developed. But engineers thought
they had fixed the trouble with a design change. The company also had
reports of Ions stalling in 2003 because of ignitions that could slip
unexpectedly out of the run position.
Also Wednesday, GM said it
would offer to owners of the recalled cars free loaner cars and $500
toward a new GM vehicle. The offers are effective immediately. Owners
will be able to use the loaner cars until parts arrive at dealerships to
replace the faulty switches. They are expected around April 7, GM said.
The cash allowance offer runs through April 30.
GM
now counts 12 people as having died in crashes linked to the problem.
The company said Wednesday that one victim had been double-counted.
Shares
of GM have fallen 7.3 percent this week amid word of new
investigations. The stock fell 32 cents, or 0.9 percent, to close at
$34.86 on Wednesday.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.