NHTSA Considers Adding 1 Million Cars To GM Brake Light Recall | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

What Happened:

Federal regulators have announced they are considering adding more than 1 million General Motors cars to an existing recall for brake light trouble. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it’s been investigating complaints about the Chevy Malibu between 2004 and 2011 as well as 2007 to 2009 Saturn Auras.

In some cases the NHTSA says the brake lights may not come on when the brake pedal is pressed. On other occasions, the brake lights will illuminate for no reason. So far safety regulators say they have received 97 complaints from owners of the Chevy and Saturn models.

In 2009, GM initially recalled 8,000 Pontiac G6 vehicles for the same problem. Just last month the NHTSA revealed it was considering adding 550,000 additional Pontiacs to the recall list.

The problem is that if the brake lights don’t properly illuminate then drivers behind the cars will have no warning that they should slow down which could lead to dangerous rear-end collisions. Safety inspectors say the problem with the brake lights was related to corrosion among wires.

The Virginia Injury Attorney’s Perspective:

Though it’s always good to see a company like General Motors take the step of warning consumers about possible dangers associated with its products, the recall by GM raises some serious questions about why the improperly assembled vehicles were allowed to be sold in the first place. Even more troubling is that the first recalls involving the Pontiacs were announced almost four years ago, meaning GM knew about the wiring trouble in their midsized sedans long before the recent statements by the NHTSA.

Attorneys with my Virginia (VA) personal injury law firm have helped victims of dangerous and defective products recover damages from companies whose negligence or disregard for consumer safety led to injuries. In one case, my firm represented a man who was injured as a result of a defect in a custom ski boat he had recently purchased. We were able to secure a settlement for the man to help compensate him for not only his medical expenses, but for the pain and suffering he endured as a result of the manufacturer’s negligent design.

Potentially Helpful Information:

Defective and dangerous products come in all shapes and sizes, from cars to cribs and everything in between. If you or a family member has been injured, sickened or killed by an unsafe product, you can begin to learn about your legal rights and options by reading this article written by the experienced Virginia product safety attorneys at my firm.

Have Questions? Check out our FAQs 

Those who have been injured by a dangerous or defective product likely have many questions and concerns. If you’re wondering about what to do after sustaining an injury, curious about the requirements for successful product liability claims or worried about how a manufacturer might defend against such a suit, check out my firm’s library of  answers to frequently asked questions regarding recalled products

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