General Motors Recalls Chevy Camaros for Ignition Problems

General Motors is issuing a vehicle defect recall for nearly 512,000 Chevrolet Camaro muscle cars due to ignition problems.

According to an ABC news report, the automaker is recalling vehicles from the 2010 to 2014 model years because a driver’s knee can bump the key and knock the switch out of the “run” position, causing an engine stall.

An engine stall disables the power steering and brakes and could cause drivers to lose control.

Ignition Switch Issues Continue

GM officials told the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it knows of three car accidents and four minor injuries from the problem.

A spokesman also said the airbags did not go off in the crashes, but GM has not determined if the non-deployment of the airbags was due to the switches.

Officials say the problem primarily affects taller drivers who sit close to the steering column so their knees touch the key.

GM also said the Camaro switches met its specifications unlike those at the center of a recall of 2.6 million small cars connected to more than 50 crashes and at least 13 fatalities.

The problem was apparently discovered during internal testing of ignition switches after the company recalled the switches in small cars such as the Chevy Cobalt and Saturn Ion earlier this year.

GM knew for more than 10 years that the small car switches were faulty, but did not issue the recall until this year.

This vehicle defect issue has spurred federal investigations, lawsuits and a $35 million fine from NHTSA. So far, GM has recalled 14.4 million vehicles in the United States this year.

Protecting Consumers’ Rights

Once again, the ignition defects in the recalled Chevrolet Camaros can prove catastrophic for vehicle occupants. So far, GM has not reported any fatalities or major injuries as a result of these dangerous defects.

If you have been injured as the result of a defective vehicle, it is crucial that you preserve the vehicle in its current condition unaltered so it can be thoroughly examined to evidence of malfunctions, defects and design flaws.

Injured victims would also be well advised to contact an experienced auto product liability lawyer who will analyze all aspects of the incident and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.

The best auto defect law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.