GM adds four models to recall issued earlier this month

DETROIT, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- GM added four models to the list of cars it has recalled, nearly doubling the size of the recall to 1.4 million vehicles, citing an ignition switch defect in some of its small cars.

The updated recall is for cars with ignition switches that would shut off the engine and disable the airbags when the ignition key got jarred or when the key had a heavy key ring attached to it. GM said it was now aware of 13 deaths related to front seat occupants, where the air bag did not deploy and 31 deaths in all.

So in addition to the 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalts and Pontiac G5 and Pontiac Pursuit, which were sold only in Canada, GM is recalling 2003-2007 Saturn Ions, 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHRs, and 2006-2007 Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky models.

GM has assured its customers that it will work with its dealer to make the repairs and ensure that the inconvenience is kept to the minimum.

“Ensuring our customers’ safety is our first order of business,” said GM North America President Alan Batey. “We are deeply sorry and we are working to address this issue as quickly as we can.”

Until they are able to go in and get the ignition switch replaced, GM has asked customers to use the ignition key with nothing else on the key ring.

[GM]