GM recalls 8.4 million cars

Published Date: 2nd Jul 2014

US car maker General Motors has to recall another 8.4 million cars, including 7.6 million in the states.

They are vehicles manufactured between 1997 and 2014 and are being recalled because of a problem with the ignition switch. Among the recalled vehicles, GM says it is aware of seven crashes, eight injuries and three fatalities.

GM said it would take a charge of $1.2bn for recall-related repairs - up from the $700m it had previously estimated.

However, GM said there was "no conclusive evidence" that the switch defects have caused any crashes.

"We undertook what I believe is the most comprehensive safety review in the history of our company because nothing is more important than the safety of our customers," explained GM chief executive Mary Barra in a statement.

"Our customers deserve more than we delivered in these vehicles." The recalls come on the same day GM announced details of a compensation fund for recall victims.

Kenneth Feinberg - the man GM appointed to deal with compensating the people affected by the recalls - has said that the carmaker will not put a cap on the amount it will pay to its victims. Orange County in the US state of California revealed it had filed a civil lawsuit against GM last Friday.

The Orange County District Attorney suggested that GM "endangered the public through deception regarding vehicle safety and reliability and gained advantage over its competitors by engaging in unfair business practices".