Pontiac G5
GM was again in the public spotlight in 2007. Not just because of its bankruptcy and government bailout, but also because of one of the worst cases of cover-ups in recent years. The problem was a faulty ignition switch in many GM models such as the Chevrolet Cobalt or Pontiac G5. In some cases, during the drive, the car would shut down completely, causing the driver to lose control and eventually crash (via JD Power).
But this wasn’t the worst part. When the ignition switch shuts down the engine, it also shuts down safety systems like airbags or ABS brakes. This made the crash even worse since the passengers had no protection. GM tried to cover things up by replacing the problematic part with the upgraded one and giving it the same part number. Then the reports of deaths and injuries started coming in. The court cases are still active and the death toll has risen to 90. But GM is still trying to fight the case. Their main argument is that the faulty ignition switch is a part of “old GM” after the restructuring and government bailout and not the same company.