Did GM wait too long to issue its recall?

The government wants to know why it took so long for General Motors to recall 1.6 mission small cars

Why did it take so long for GM to recall vehicles? 00:27

Questions about General Motors' (GM) handling of an ignition-switch defect are focusing on the automaker's timing, with critics and federal investigators asking why it took the automaker so long to recall affected vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the "timeliness" of GM's recall, the federal agency told CBS MoneyWatch. GM on Tuesday doubled a recall it had issued the week before, with recall now affecting 1.6 million cars. Those include Saturn Ion compacts, Saturn Sky sports cars, Chevrolet HHR SUVs, Chevrolet Cobalts, Pontiac Solstice and Pontiac G5s.

13 deaths now linked to GM faulty ignition switches, recall expanded 02:28

GM knew of the defect as early as 2004, according to a chronology the automaker supplied to the NHTSA. The earliest point at which GM became aware of the problem was with the debut of the 2005 Chevy Cobalt, when one of the cars lost engine power when the key shifted from the "run" position if the driver contacted the key or steering column during test drives. But because of the "lead time required, cost and effectiveness" required to solve the problem, the inquiry was closed without action, GM said in the document.

"They knew something was wrong with the car before the accident," Margie Beskau, whose 15-year-old daughter was killed in a 2006 crash of a Cobalt, told CBS News. "I just don't understand how they can knowingly put these cars out and still let people drive them."

The defect has been linked to 31 crashes and 13 front-death seats. The problem occurs when the ignition switch is shifted out of the run position due to heavy key chains or bumpy roads.

GM recall came years after defect was discovered 03:52

GM said it will "fully cooperate" with the NHTSA. "We deeply regret the events that led to the recall and this investigation," the company said in a statement.

Regardless of what the investigation uncovers, auto recalls are both complicated and expensive, with Toyota noting in 2010 that its massive recall of cars due to gas pedal problems cost $2 billion.

GM said it's too early to estimate the cost of its recall.

It is clear that the recall will probably take place more slowly than many GM car owners would like. GM said it will send owners letters during the week of March 10th to let them know about the recall. The letter will also remind them to only use the ignition key in the car -- without a fob or other keys attached -- and that parts won't be available until early April.

Beyond the cost of repairs, GM could also face a fine of as much as $35 million, Bloomberg reports. That would be largest penalty ever for the agency if the NHTSA finds that GM failed to issue a recall when it knew of the defects.

Still, if history holds true, GM is likely to rebound from negative consumer sentiment related to the recall. Toyota, for instance, offered incentives to lure buyers back to its wares following its 2010 recall, and its sales rebounded not long after.

Given that recalls are on the rise -- the number of vehicles recalled by the NHTSA rose 4.5 percent in 2012 -- it may be that consumers, when it comes to purchasing new cars, are taking automakers' past problems in stride.

Aimee Picchi

Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.

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