Any company will lose the trust of its customers when it ignores safety hazards. This is especially true when a company sacrifices safety to keep costs low for the bottom line.
It is a universal truth that safety is not an option, but a requirement. This is a lesson that General Motors, among other auto manufacturers, should have heeded years ago.
So far in 2014, more than 40 million vehicles have been recalled, eclipsing the previous record of 30 million set in 2004. General Motors leads the pack with 29 million vehicles affected by 66 different recalls this year.
Rather than easing customers’ concerns, consumer confidence is being challenged by the high volume of recalls. General Motors’ hearings in Congress in June shed light on a flawed system that has, in fact, endangered the lives of American drivers and passengers.
At least 54 crashes and 13 deaths have been linked to GM ignition switch air bag failures, which made headline news earlier this year. General Motors is currently gearing up for a major court battle to fight a number of ignition switch-related lawsuits filed against the company.
GM’s CEO has admitted the auto manufacturer failed to recall vehicles equipped with an ignition switch design the company had known was defective for more than 11 years. The U.S. automaker has already been hit with heavy fines, but lawsuits are forthcoming, which will have a major impact. The approach GM is taking is too late for at least 13 people who lost their lives, but hopefully it will change the company’s corporate culture.
The list of vehicles recalled by major auto manufacturers keeps growing. Within the past few weeks, a number of auto manufacturers have announced additional recalls, including:
• General Motors issued five new recalls including 202,000 Saturn VUE crossover SUVs due to an ignition key cylinder problem. The recall covers 2002 to 2004 vehicles with a faulty ignition lock cylinder that may allow the driver to pull out the key when the engine is still running.
• Nissan recalled an additional 226,000 vehicles over a defective air bag that has affected much of the global auto industry. Faulty air bags have already been blamed for the recall of millions of cars around the world. The air bag systems, manufactured by Takata Corp., can rupture, causing metal fragments to fly out when the air bags are deployed.
• Hyundai announced a recall for nearly 420,000 vehicles, including 2001-2006 Santa Fe crossover vehicles, 2007-2012 Veracruz models and 2011 Sonata sedans. Issues include front coil spring corrosion, brake fluid leaks and potentially defective transmission shift cables.
The current flood of auto recalls — which outpaces car sales in the U.S. — shows no signs of slowing down.
How can consumers protect themselves and their loved ones? Here are a few tips to navigate the recall process:
Stay informed.
Check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration database at www.safercar.gov to see whether your make and model of vehicle has been recalled. Do not assume car manufacturers will have your contact information or keep you posted by mail. Take the initiative and do your homework. Other useful resources include the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports.
Get your recalled vehicle to an authorized dealer to be serviced as soon as possible.
This will help reduce the chance of your vehicle malfunctioning and resulting in potential injury. Approximately 30 percent of car owners never get their vehicle serviced during a recall, despite the fact these recall repairs are completed free of charge.
If you suspect a recall-related issue contributed to the injury of yourself or your loved ones, seek legal counsel. Automakers are responsible for damages resulting from design flaws and manufacturer defects. You may be able to recover damages and ensure that justice is served.
Holding a manufacturer responsible for its defects is the only way to help ensure no one else is injured.
Stephen G. Lowry is a partner with the law firm of Harris Penn Lowry LLP. He and his law firm handle numerous product defect claims. He can be reached at steve@hpllegal.com or 912-651-9967.