£20m fine over deadly car faults recall delay

US SAFETY regulators have fined General Motors $35m (£20m) for delays in recalling small cars with faulty ignition switches that are linked to at least 13 deaths.

It’s the maximum penalty that the government can impose and the first time an automaker has been fined that much. But the amount is less than a day’s revenue for the automaker, based on the $37.4bn (£22bn) it took in during the first quarter.

As part of an agreement announced by the Transportation Department and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, GM also has agreed to government oversight on safety issues, and to report safety problems much faster than in the past.

NHTSA has been investigating GM’s delayed recall of older small cars with defective ignition switches. GM has acknowledged knowing about the problem for at least a decade, but it didn’t start recalling the cars until February of this year.

The company says at least 13 people have died in crashes linked to the problem, but trial lawyers suing the company say the death toll is at least 53.

“Today’s announcement puts all manufacturers on notice that they will be held accountable if they fail to quickly report and address safety-related defects,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in a statement.

Carmakers are required to report safety defects within five days of discovering them.

Ignition switches on Chevrolet Cobalts and Saturn Ions can slip out of the “run” position and shut off the engine. That cuts off the power steering and brakes, potentially causing drivers to lose control. It also disables the car’s airbags.

Under the agreement, GM will have to make “significant and wide-ranging internal changes” to its safety review process, the government said.