from the more-than-just-a-lucky-premonition dept.
The NYT reports that according to emails to its supplier Delphi Automotive, General Motors placed an urgent order for 500,000 replacement switches nearly two months before notifying federal regulators and the public that it was recalling cars with a dangerously defective ignition switch. The emails were sent on December 18, 2013, a day after a crucial committee met to discuss the switch issue but declined to order a recall. Despite the official inaction, a GM employee sent an email to Delphi the next day requesting the half-million replacement parts: for “an urgent field action for our customers.” The emails were turned over by Delphi during discovery in sweeping class-action litigation against the automaker and were released to the press by Robert C. Hilliard, one of the three lead attorneys for plaintiffs in the case. The fault had been known to GM for at least a decade prior to the recall being declared. Some have suggested that the company actually approved the switches in 2002 even though they knew they might not meet safety standards
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Ethanol-fueled on Tuesday November 11 2014, @02:29AM
Tyler Durden: " A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph. The ignition switch malfunctions and the brakes and steering freeze. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one."
Woman: "Are there a lot of these kinds of accidents?"
Durden: "You wouldn't believe."
Woman: "Which car company do you work for?"
Durden: " General Motors."
(Score: 1) by middlemen on Tuesday November 11 2014, @03:15AM
Haha ! Funny modification there... The original quote from IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137523/quotes?item=qt0479130 [imdb.com]
(Score: 2) by compro01 on Tuesday November 11 2014, @04:10AM
Obviously we need to add D, the length of the prison term everyone involved gets sentenced to, to the equation.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by davester666 on Tuesday November 11 2014, @08:53AM
Adding zero to the equation changes nothing.
And it's not like that equation is specific to GM.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 11 2014, @04:02AM
and didn't act like complete morons, This would never happen. Instead they act like Chicken Little and cry about the sky falling and sue everybody. It doesn't help having 20lbs of keys and nicnaks hanging from the keychain.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Wrong Turn Ahead on Tuesday November 11 2014, @05:07AM
I know, right! All these victims are really ruining it for the rest of us, with their key chains and lawsuits... You know who I feel sorry for? GM... Those poor, innocent bastards...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 11 2014, @03:13PM
> You know who I feel sorry for? GM... Those poor, innocent bastards...
You forgot to add defenceless. Who will stand up for GM?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 11 2014, @04:08AM
was until recently, completely oriented towards the bottom line, and more to the point, a clubby atmosphere where managers were expected not to make trouble by rehashing issues that were "already decided".
Let's give the new leadership a chance. I'm willing to give Ms. Barra a break and charge this one to the old regime. But no more of these, please.
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Tuesday November 11 2014, @01:47PM
I bought the ten year old Pontiac in May. I haven't called the dealer yet.
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