JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – General Motors' latest recall involves 3.16 million midsize and large cars because of a key and ignition problem.
This recall is similar to one back in February and March where keys carrying extra weight could possibly cause the ignition switch to move out of the "run" position, shutting off the engine and disabling the airbags.
The first recall is linked to 13 deaths and 54 crashed and the newer one is responsible for eight crashes and six injuries.
A local dealer said, if you think your car is part of one of those recalls, to please be patient, because he said it will take a few days for GM to get all the recall parts and information to dealerships across the nation.
"I believe it will probably involve replacing ignition switches possibly keys maybe even ignition lock cylinders, but yet the info has not been revealed to us from GM," said Fixed Operations Director, Tom York.
York works with Jerry Hamm Chevrolet said it sometimes takes several days for a dealer to receive information on a recall, like what the exact problem is and what parts need to be replaced.
5.3 million General Motors cars have been recalled since February, around two million at the beginning of the year and more than three million just this week.
York said dealerships around the nation are still working on cars involved in the first recall, and that completing the ones in the second could take until at least the Fall.
"They're under a watchful eye of the government and so no one is taking chances, GM least of all. We've had unprecedented recalls for quite a few models they're taking no chances, even the appearance of something that may be a safety hazard they're going to step up and take care of it as soon as possible," said York.
The affected cars in the most recent recall involve:
- 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse
- 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala
- 2000-2005 Cadillac Deville
- 2004-2011 Cadillac DTS
- 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne
- 2004-2005 Buick Regal LS and GS
- 2006-2008 Chevy Monte Carlo
"Just bear with us, we want to help, we're here to help we want to get it done as fast as we can but until we have the parts and info on what's going to be repaired, were kind of at the mercy of GM to tell us where to proceed and when," said York.
If your vehicle is on the recall list, since it could take some time to fix all the cars, you're encouraged to remove all excess weight from your key.
York said they realize it may be bad press and bad news for dealerships like theirs but says it's better to deal with that short term, fix the problems as quickly and accurately as possible, so they can take care of the problem once and for all.
The vehicles mentioned in the article are all U.S. vehicles, but there are some recalled in Canada and Mexico and the latest recall of 3.16 million cars grows to 3.36 when you include those export cars.