General Motors (GM) is recalling 3,300 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups and Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles (SUVs) to address a potential ignition switch defect. The issue was identified by an employee who owned one of the trucks, reports indicate, and GM has five reports of engines shutting off but no crashes or injuries. According to Automotive News, the switch can move out of "start" position, rotate past "run" and slip into "accessory" under a significant jarring event or cooling interior cabin temperature. In accessory mode, the engine shuts off and power steering, power brakes, and possibly the airbags are disabled. Separately, GM is recalling 414 vehicles in North America to address potentially defective Takata airbag inflators, reports Associated Press, citing the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall affects seat-mounted airbags in certain 2015 model-year Chevrolet Equinox, Malibu, and Camaro vehicles; Buick LaCrosse; Cadillac XTS; and GMC Terrain. GM notified the NHTSA that one side airbag inflator exploded with too much force in testing at a Takata plant in Mexico and subsequently decided to recall the vehicles. AP quotes a GM spokesperson as saying, "No other lots of air bag inflators are suspect," though other GM cars and SUVs have seat-mounted Takata inflators. The GM recall is the second report of side airbag inflator issues in newer models; the NHTSA is also investigating an accident involving a Volkswagen Tiguan.
Significance: In this instance of ignition switch failure, the ignition lock gears have an outer diameter larger than specifications, making them difficult to turn, reports note. Dealers will replace the ignition lock housing at no charge to consumers. Relative the airbag inflator recall, GM has begun shipping replacement inflators which were not part of the faulty lot, and dealers are contacting vehicle owners. GM will make loaner cars available to owners, and dealers will arrange to pick up the vehicles and take them in for repair. No accidents or injuries have yet been reported in these vehicles.
