The Switch from Hell is a short documentary detailing the tragic consequences of a faulty ignition system that forced the withdrawal of millions of vehicles and caused many fatalities. The massive manufacturing company GM is suspected of knowing about the problem but doing nothing until the number of deaths became intolerable.
The steering column ignition switches on the Chevrolet Cobalt and other compact automobiles were defective. Engineers have been aware of the issue since 2004 when Cobalt came to a halt after the driver accidentally touched the key fob with his knee. GM acknowledged that malfunctioning switches contributed to accidents and fatalities. Nobody at the automaker’s headquarters has detected a safety concern since 2000.
GM engineers, safety inspectors, and attorneys wrongly concluded individuals could still move the automobile after the engines stopped. They overlooked the changes as a “customer satisfaction” issue, even though dozens of drivers lost control and crashed. Not naming the matter a safety risk slowed the company’s resolution. Many experts praised GM’s report, while others, including victims’ families and lawyers, do not believe it. GM’s new ignition switch is dependable, safer, and cheaper to repair. GM engineer Ray DeGiorgio fixed the test vehicle’s damaged electrical system, and after making changes, he emailed the switchmaker about the faulty ignition.
The Cobalt exchange sparked protests as engineers expected drivers could pull over safely if the engine and power steering failed. GM dismissed concerns as minor, and the switch issue got less attention, but after recategorization, more resources were focused on it. GM should have recalled the vehicles sooner and paid costs to avert fatalities and boost customer trust. After the initial incidence was traced to a faulty switch, many may have been avoided.
In conclusion, before fixing the ignitions, GM should have looked into additional safety flaws that could have resulted in recalls, forcing a record number of recalls. Numerous adjustments should have been suggested to prevent such tragedies in the future, including giving the safety chief immediate accessibility to the board and the CEO so that they may raise concerns as they arise and not be reluctant to label things as safety issues.
Reference
CBS News. (2014). Engineer’s “switch from hell” began GM recall woes. Web.