GM’s ignition saga continues with the announcement that the automaker will rework or replace the ignition keys on about 3.16 million 2000 to 2014 model year cars in the U.S. That’s because the ignition switch may inadvertently move out of the “run” position if the key is carrying extra weight and experiences some jarring event.
GM says the use of a key with a hole, rather than a slotted key, “addresses the concern of unintended key rotation due to a jarring road event, such as striking a pothole or crossing railroad tracks.”
Of the total number of 3,160,725 cars recalled in the U.S., only one model is still in production – the previous generation Chevrolet Impala, which is sold to daily rental fleets as the Impala Limited. The total number of recalled cars in North America is 3,360,555.
The cars being recalled are 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, 2000-2005 Cadillac Deville, 2007-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2005 Buick Regal LS & GS, and 2006-2008 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. GM is aware of eight crashes and six injuries related to this recall.
The automaker says that if the ignition switch moves out of the “run” position, there is an effect on power steering and power braking. Furthermore, “the timing of the key movement out of the “run” position, relative to the activation of the sensing algorithm of the crash event, may result in the air bags not deploying.”
GM’s fix is to add an insert to the ignition keys of the recalled vehicles to close the slot and leave a 4×6-millimeter hole through which the key ring could be attached. In vehicles where the key cover has been worn, GM will replace the keys with new ones with holes instead of slots. Until the rework or replacement is completed, owners of the recalled cars are advised to remove additional weight from their key chains and drive with only the ignition key.
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