How does GM get away with this?

[KZ]

Just curious as to what you all think.

I have posted previously how I think it is kind of ridiculous that so many auto manufacturers in my opinion continue to have far too many recalls. We live in such a high-tech world and yet they put vehicles on the market that continue to be unsafe, and we only find out about this after a certain number of people have unfortunately died at the result of a faulty part/design. I do not know all of the details about GM but if they knew for 10 YEARS that they had a safety issue, this seems to me to maybe be a case of capitalism and greed run amok.

[CudamanTom]

It's management and Engineers.
Someone knew, but didn't want to piss anyone off.
Political games to keep cost down and productivity up, and to keep their jobs.
Sadly it's at the cost of lives of the customers.

[HemiOrange70]

Sad, but as a business, they look at costs: yes 13 people lost their lives, but only 1.3 per year and cheaper to compensate them then to recall all those cars. It isn't right, but it comes down to dollars and cents (not sense). Shareholders run the business and bottom dollar is king

[ToxicWolf]

Sad, but as a business, they look at costs: yes 13 people lost their lives, but only 1.3 per year and cheaper to compensate them then to recall all those cars. It isn't right, but it comes down to dollars and cents (not sense). Shareholders run the business and bottom dollar is king

   There is an old rule that you have to sue them until it cost them more to do it wrong than it cost to do it right.  GM was able to save a lot of money by going bankrupt. I really hope they go back and take away the bankruptcy protectiion.

[Racer57]

Considering the new CEO just started the job in January, I wonder if the previous one thought to themselves.... This might be a good time to get the hell out and dump this potential mess it onto someone else.

[CudamanTom]

Considering the new CEO just started the job in January, I wonder if the previous one thought to themselves.... This might be a good time to get the hell out and dump this potential mess it onto someone else.

That's possible but, they can always be brought back to question. And I bet that's what will happen. It happened under their watch and when the new CEO says she doesn't know what they did, they will be brought in.

[Gus cuda]

Two words: government motors. Their making a big deal about it, but you know as well as I do since the bail-out their gonna get away with just about anything.

[magicr]

I don't know if you can blame this on "Government Motors" they've know about this problem for at least 10 years. Sometimes the ol mighty dollar over rules over the right thing to do.

[torredcuda]

I don't know if you can blame this on "Government Motors" they've know about this problem for at least 10 years. Sometimes the ol mighty dollar over rules over the right thing to do.

  Nothing to do with the government- any big company will avoid fessing up to a problem until they absolutely have to. It sucks but it`s just the way big business and the almighty dollar rules over the safety of people.

[tommyg29]

Nothing to do with the government- any big company will avoid fessing up to a problem until they absolutely have to. It sucks but it`s just the way big business and the almighty dollar rules over the safety of people.

 
Obviously cars are complex objects, and with new models and technology coming out all the time, not to mention cheaper ways to build the same part or accomplish the same task, problems happen. I would just hope that as soon as they see and detect a problem, they would jump on it and immediately redesign the part, at a minimum, and then consider recalling to replace the rest, but I would bet sometimes management refuses to even redesign a part, simply because doing so would be admitting a problem.
Decisions like those, if proven, are the worst in my opinion, and should be considered for criminal prosecution.

[KZ]

a reply to the "cars are complex" statement, I think we would all agree that today's automobile's are complicated high-tech devices, but look at the damage a SINGLE SPIDER CAN CAUSE

unbelieveable

http://www.wtop.com/911/3597860/Mazda-recalling-cars-because-spiders-can-cause-damage

[CudamanTom]

a reply to the "cars are complex" statement, I think we would all agree that today's automobile's are complicated high-tech devices, but look at the damage a SINGLE SPIDER CAN CAUSE

unbelieveable

http://www.wtop.com/911/3597860/Mazda-recalling-cars-because-spiders-can-cause-damage

That is just crazy.   
I guess the ole charcoal canisters are doing a fine job for us. 

Gotta love them spiders