General Motors Co. will continue to be under the watchful eye of U.S auto safety regulators for another year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) told GM in a letter.
In 2014, the Detroit, Michigan based automaker agreed to a deal which included monthly meetings, enhanced regulations and transparency, as well as a $35 million fine from the NHTSA. All of this was a result of delayed action to an ignition switch defect in millions of vehicles that led to about 400 deaths and injuries.
GM has had to pay out major money in the aftermath of the ignition switch case. Costs topped $2 billion, including a $900 million settlement with the United States Justice Department. Reuters stated that under the original agreement with NHTSA, GM is required to provide a written list every month of all safety issues under review by the automaker's investigators, even if the company decides it's not necessary to have a recall.
In its letter this past week, the NHTSA believes the relationship with GM has been productive. "The meetings have been useful to proactively and expeditiously address potential safety-related defects and to facilitate," the letter reads.
Car defects can be triggered by something as simple as having too much weight on a key chain or driving in extreme climates. These automobile faults may even cause drivers to lose control of the car and potentially cause injuries or fatalities. If you or somebody you know has been involved in an accident caused by a car defect, please call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Whether the accident resulted in a few broken bones or it caused head trauma, our attorneys are highly experienced in helping victims of all types of motor vehicle collisions. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM.