GM Expands Ignition Recall, While Offering Free Loaner Car And Cash Allowance

General Motors is expanding the recall of certain 2003-2007 model year vehicles to correct a condition with the ignition switch that may allow the key to unintentionally move or switch to the “accessory” or “off” position, turning off the engine and most of the electrical components on the vehicle. 

Vehicles Involved In Recalls

In addition to 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalts and Pontiac G5 and Pontiac Pursuit sold in Canada only, GM is separately recalling 2003-2007 Saturn Ions, 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHRs, and 2006-2007 Pontiac Solstice and 2007 Saturn Sky models. The affected U.S. vehicle population, including those vehicles recalled Feb. 13, totals 1,367,146.

This expanded vehicle population raises the number of reported incidents involving frontal crashes, in which the recall condition may have caused or contributed to the non-deployment of the frontal airbags, to 31 involving 13 front-seat fatalities.  

Resolution/Cash Offer/Loaner Vehicle

As part of the recall, GM is taking steps to address customer concerns and working with its suppliers to increase parts production and accelerate availability.

GM Recalls 2005-2007 Caddy CTS Sedans

General Motors is recalling about 109,000 Cadillac CTS models from the 2005-2007 model years because of a kink, bend or fold in the front passenger presence system mat that can lead to the passenger air bag failing to deploy.

If the airbag becomes disabled, the passenger airbag status indicator on the rearview mirror will show that the airbag is off, the Air Bag indicator will be illuminated, and a Service Air Bag message will appear in the Driver Information Center. In the event of a crash severe enough to activate the front passenger airbag, if the passenger airbag does not deploy, it could result in increased injury for the occupant.
There are no known injuries or fatalities related to this condition.

The passenger presence system in affected vehicles may have been built with a sensor mat that can kink, bend, or fold while the seat is in use. This flexing can cause the traces in the mat to fatigue and fracture, causing loss of continuity in the trace that would tell the airbag to deploy.

Dealers will replace the passenger presence system in affected vehicles at no charge to the customer. Owner letters are expected to begin mailing in February 2011. Owners of certain other 2005-2007 that have significantly lower incident rates will be provided free repairs for the issue for up to 10 years or 120,000 miles.

The type of Passenger Presence System was changed with the 2008 CTS model. No other GM models have the same system that used in the 2005-2007 Cadillac CTS.