General Motors announced yet another recall. On Monday, 3.36 million vehicles were recalled worldwide by the automaker for a problem tied to eight crashes resulting in six injuries. The total number of GM vehicles recalled in 2014 has now surpassed 20 million.
The latest recall includes vehicles from 2000 to 2014. GM says the ignition switch moves from the run position and turns off the power braking and power steering while the vehicle is being driven.
Any extra weight that is on the key chain can cause it to jostle and if the vehicle hits anything including small potholes it could turn the ignition off.
The announcement by GM on Monday came after a review of the issues with the ignition switch following the recall of 2.6 million Chevrolet Cobalts as well as other small autos for a problem that was similar in nature.
The earlier problem with the ignition switch has been blamed for as many as 13 deaths.
The company took over one decade to make the first recall of vehicles for the ignition switch problem. The automaker currently is being investigated and facing a number of lawsuits due to its delay in recalling the cars.
The recall on Monday involved an ignition switch that is different and requires another solution, said a spokesperson for GM.
Owners of the cars included in the recall for the Cobalt must have the ignition switch replaced. However, those in the recall on Monday are not required to. Instead, dealerships for GM will add an insert to the key closing the slot and that leaves just a small hole where a key ring can be attached.
The dealerships are hoping to start fixing the keys for owners over the next couple of weeks but until that time, owners have been urged to remove the additional weight from the keys chains.
An engineer from GM who took part in the design of both of the ignition switches was placed on paid leave since the beginning of the investigation into the Cobalt and is not working with the company any longer.
