(Reuters) — General Motors Co (GM.N) recalled three million more cars for ignition switch issues on Monday, roughly doubling the number of GM vehicles with known switch problems in a crisis that has defined the automaker and new Chief Executive Mary Barra this year.
GM on Monday recalled 3.36 million midsize and fullsize cars globally with ignition switches that can be jarred out of the “run” position, potentially affecting power steering, power brakes and air bags.
The switch issue is similar to the defect linked to at least 13 deaths in an earlier, 2.6-million vehicle recall of Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars.
GM engineers first noted the Cobalt problem more than a decade ago, and GM’s slow response to the switch issue triggered investigations within the company and by Congress and federal agencies.
“The recall is just sort of the tip of the iceberg in terms of what has to be done” at GM, Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut and one of GM’s more vocal critics in Congress, said after Monday’s recall.
