PROTECTING THE LEGAL INTERESTS OF INJURED HAWAII RESIDENTS AND VISITORS SINCE 1973

Faulty ignition switch prompts recall of more vehicles

On Behalf of | Jul 4, 2014 | Product Liability |

It seems as though each day brings news of another automotive recall. While a lot of these automotive recalls have been associated with the ignition switch in General Motors’ brands, a recent recall dealing with ignition switches has nothing to do with GM. The most recent recall might interest Honolulu readers who drive Chrysler vehicles.

Chrysler has announced that 696,000 SUVs and minivans have been added to a recall that was originally issued in 2011. According to Chrysler, two crashes related to this new recall have been reported. The company asserted that it is not aware of any injuries that may have resulted from the recall.

In the most recent update, Chrysler has added 2007 through 2009 model years of the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan and Dodge Journey. The ignition switch problem with these vehicles is eerily similar to the one that is necessitating the recall of so many GM vehicles.

The defective ignition switch can move from the run position to the accessory position without warning, which shuts down the engine. With the car shut down, the airbags are disabled, and the power steering stops working.

Chrysler will remedy the issue that prompted this recall as it did with the previous recall in 2011–by replacing the defective product with a wireless model on affected vehicles. This does not help people who may have been injured in crashes resulting from the ignition switch issue that is plaguing Chrysler now, however.

Anyone who has been injured in a crash that was caused by a faulty ignition switch has the right to seek compensation for those injuries. Learning about the recalls and finding out about legal avenues for seeking compensation via a consultation with a personal injury lawyer might help you to make an informed choice about how to proceed with your claims.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, “Chrysler adds 696,000 vehicles to ignition recall,” Associated Press, June 30, 2014

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