GM Recall : The Switch From Hell - the fifth estate

Summary

The Fifth Estate investigates General Motors' deadly secret involving defective ignition switches in their compact cars, particularly the Chevrolet Cobalt. The documentary reveals GM's internal knowledge of the fatal flaw since 2001, their decision not to recall the vehicles, and the tragic consequences, including numerous deaths. It questions the role of Transport Canada in vehicle safety, highlights the corporate culture prioritizing cost over safety, and the lack of legal power to enforce recalls, suggesting a systemic issue in the auto industry's approach to safety.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The 'Fifth Estate' investigation uncovers General Motors' (GM) deadly secret regarding the ignition switch defect in their Chevrolet Cobalt cars.
• 🏁 GM made a business decision to not fix the safety defects, prioritizing cost over customer safety, which led to fatalities.
• 💔 The tragic death of Dany Dubuc-Marquis in Quebec and Brooke Melton in Georgia highlighted the fatal flaw in GM vehicles that could have been addressed over a decade ago.
• 🔧 A 57-cent piece, the detent plunger, was identified as the critical part that, if fixed, might have saved lives, but GM chose not to incur the cost.
• 📋 Transport Canada's role in vehicle safety is questioned, as they did not take immediate action on the GM ignition switch issue despite early warnings.
• 🤔 The script raises concerns about corporate greed and the safety of millions of motor vehicles, as well as the effectiveness of regulatory bodies.
• 🛠️ Mechanic Charlie Miller's examination of the ignition switch revealed a design flaw that could cause the key to easily slip from the 'on' to 'accessory' position, disabling critical safety features.
• 🆚 A comparison of old and new ignition switches showed a significant difference in the force required to move the key, indicating a deliberate change by GM that was not communicated to customers.
• 📉 The economic downturn and GM's financial struggles seemed to take precedence over addressing the ignition switch issue, delaying necessary recalls and repairs.
• 📖 Internal GM documents and testimonies revealed a corporate culture that downplayed safety issues and even conducted cost-benefit analyses on the value of human life versus the cost of recalls.
• ⚠️ Despite knowing about the defect since 2001, GM did not issue a recall until 2014, and only after significant public and legal pressure.

Q & A

What was the central issue with General Motors' Chevrolet Cobalt?

The central issue with the Chevrolet Cobalt was a defective ignition switch that could move from the 'on' to the 'accessory' position, causing a loss of power, steering, and anti-lock brakes, leading to fatal accidents.

How did the defective ignition switch in the Cobalt affect safety?

The defective ignition switch could cause the car to stall, disabling power steering, power brakes, and anti-lock braking systems, and preventing airbags from deploying, which resulted in a higher risk of fatal accidents.

What was the cost of the part that General Motors failed to replace, which could have prevented these accidents?

The part that needed replacement was a 57-cent piece, the detent plunger, which if fixed, could have prevented the ignition switch from moving to the 'accessory' position.

Why did General Motors not disclose the ignition switch defect to the public?

General Motors did not disclose the defect because they made a business decision that it was cheaper to pay for damages in lawsuits than to recall and repair the vehicles, which would have cost them more financially.

What role did Transport Canada play in the handling of the GM ignition switch issue?

Transport Canada was criticized for not taking proactive measures to address the issue. They only became aware of the problem when GM announced the recall in February 2014, despite evidence suggesting they had knowledge of the issue earlier.

How did the Melton family react to the official story of their daughter's accident?

The Melton family did not accept the official story that their daughter's accident was due to a driving error. They believed it had to be a mechanical failure and sought the help of an automotive detective to uncover the truth.

What was the significance of the discovery by engineer Mark Hood regarding the ignition switch?

Mark Hood discovered that the newer ignition switch had a plunger that was 1.6 millimeters longer than the defective one, making it harder to move the key from 'run' to 'accessory' or 'off'. This change was made without informing customers or issuing a recall.

What was the role of Charlie Miller, the mechanic from Merigold, Mississippi, in the investigation?

Charlie Miller was an expert witness in automobile lawsuits. He found that the ignition switch in Brooke Melton's car had moved to the 'accessory' position, causing the loss of power, and that the switch was easily jostled out of position.

What actions did General Motors take after the ignition switch issue became public?

After the issue became public, General Motors recalled millions of vehicles, admitted to at least 29 fatalities related to the ignition switch, and faced congressional investigations, a Department of Justice investigation, and a fine from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

What was the impact of the ignition switch scandal on General Motors' corporate culture?

The scandal revealed a corporate culture that prioritized cost over safety and penalized employees for speaking up about problems. GM dismissed 15 employees, including Ray DeGiorgio, the engineer responsible for the ignition switch, as a result of the scandal.

What were the legal implications for General Motors in the U.S. and Canada?

In the U.S., GM faced congressional investigations, a Department of Justice investigation, and a $35 million fine for not disclosing the ignition switch defects. In Canada, Transport Canada did not take any official action against GM, but the company still faced criticism for not addressing the issue sooner.