Both GM and NHTSA have been criticized by safety advocates and lawmakers for their slow responses to a deadly ignition switch problem in 2.6 million GM small cars. GM admitted knowing about the problem for more than a decade, yet didn't start recalling the cars until February. The company says it knows of 13 deaths in crashes linked to the ignition switches, but family members of crash victims say the number is much higher.
I'm sure the families and friends of those victims were thrilled to chip in to pay off GM's debt.
The NHTSA is just overworked, of course.
The number of complaints and claims with the power steering issue appears to be high when compared with other recent recalls that were preceded by NHTSA investigations.
...
"Very disturbed that the Cobalt was recalled for this problem and not the Saturn," one owner wrote in 2010. "Makes no sense since the power steering is the same in both vehicles."
I'm sure it has nothing to do with GM's campaign contributions and union votes.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Making her second appearance before a House subcommittee probing GM in connection with the defect tied to 54 accidents and 13 deaths, Barra, a GM lifer, faced skeptical questions about whether she could change a company notorious for its stilted and uncommunicative bureaucracy.
When Congress accuses you of being uncommunicative and bureaucratic ...
Edited By Malcolm on 1403198212
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Fuck GM. Fine the company half a billion dollars, indict the execs.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
I have a hard time getting bent out of shape about this. GM screwed up big time, but I'm more angry at our stupid government for not letting nature take it's course with them.
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
Vince wrote:I have a hard time getting bent out of shape about this. GM screwed up big time, but I'm more angry at our stupid government for not letting nature take it's course with them.
The gov't bears some of the blame. But the automakers came and begged for cash after decades of running their shit into and through the ground. They demanded to be treated differently than normal businesses and industries that don't contribute tens of millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of votes to various political whores. Then they tried to convince us it was a proper idea. Fuck them.
Edited By Malcolm on 1405533009
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Meanwhile, you folks rip Ford, but they were the only ones who saw it coming and planned ahead.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
Leisher wrote:Meanwhile, you folks rip Ford, but they were the only ones who saw it coming and planned ahead.
I know I've said somewhere that I'm giving Ford a pass on the loan thing. I'm still on them for their extra special shitty engineering.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Vince wrote:I have a hard time getting bent out of shape about this. GM screwed up big time, but I'm more angry at our stupid government for not letting nature take it's course with them.
Leisher wrote:Meanwhile, you folks rip Ford, but they were the only ones who saw it coming and planned ahead.
I don't rip Ford. I have relatives who work for Ford so I get cars for invoice price.
I've owned too many of their cars. Went for about 5 years without significant troubles, but they were plentiful and expensive when they came.
Edited By Malcolm on 1405541284
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Honestly, I am on my.... 7th new Ford, and I have NEVER had one in the shop for service beyond oil changes/new brakes/whatever. I keep them 3-5 years. Had a Ranger for 10 years that was in perfect shape up until the day some bitch ran a stop sign and t-boned it and totaled it.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
GORDON wrote:Honestly, I am on my.... 7th new Ford, and I have NEVER had one in the shop for service beyond oil changes/new brakes/whatever. I keep them 3-5 years.
I'm on my 2nd Japanese car in 24 years, and haven't had to do that either.
I'm on my 2nd Japanese car in 24 years, and haven't had to do that either.
That's the true I hope I'm singing. Ford had transmission problems, brake problems, springs, shocks, pads, every fucking thing except the engine itself.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
GM has acknowledged that it knew about faulty ignition switches in Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars for more than a decade. The company didn't start recalling 2.6 million small cars until February.
The ignition switches can slip out of the "on" position, which causes the cars to stall and turns off the air bags.
Totally worth that bailout.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Lawyer fucks up, receives huge pension and retirement package (probably).
GM Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra fired 15 people earlier this year after an internal investigation determined that lawyers and engineers didn’t respond quickly enough to evidence of fatal vehicle defects now linked to 27 deaths. Millikin and Barra were cleared of wrongdoing in the report.
Thank god those human shields were there to soak up all the blame.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Fiat Chrysler must offer to buy back from customers hundreds of thousands of Ram pickup trucks and other vehicles -- the biggest such action in U.S. history -- as part of a costly deal with safety regulators to settle legal problems in about two dozen recalls.
The Italian-American automaker also faces a record civil fine of up to $105 million. In addition, owners of more than a million older Jeeps with vulnerable rear-mounted gas tanks will be able to trade them in or be paid by Chrysler to have the vehicles repaired.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
