While acknowledging its role in failing to report a deadly defect for more than a decade, General Motors yesterday forcefully questioned the story of a man who was injured in a May 2014 crash and is suing the company, the New York Times reported today. The automaker is facing a civil trial in the first of six so-called bellwether cases over deadly defective ignition switches in its vehicles. In February 2014, G.M. began recalling what eventually numbered 2.6 million Chevrolet Cobalts, Ions and other small cars for a defect in the ignition switch. If jostled, the switch could unexpectedly shut off, cutting power to the engine and disabling airbags, power steering and power brakes. At least 124 deaths have been acknowledged by GM, through its compensation program, to be tied to the defect.
