General Motors has asked dealers not to sell older Cadillac CTS and SXR vehicles in the latest glitch to hit the company over its vehicles. Previously, the company had recalled millions of vehicles over an ignition switch defect that had left a number of people dead as a result.
The recall comes after GM discovered the CTS vehicle can shut down if the driver accidentally bumps their knee on the ignition key. This has led to a number of issues, especially when the vehicle is on the road or a highway. Having a car simply turn off in the middle of driving is a major concern and GM appears to be wanting, this time around, to get ahead of media over the issue.
GM, in the notice filed in early July, told dealers not to sell 2003-13 models of the CTS and 2004-06 models of the Cadillac SRX from their used-car inventories. The stop-sale order to Cadillac dealers was upated July 8, according to GM documents posted by NHTSA. The recall involved about 554,000 Cadillacs in the United States.
GM said it has yet to find a solution for the problem and has recalled the vehicles as a precaution. The initial recall came out in late June.
The order "is still in effect for the foreseeable future," GM spokesman Alan Adler said on July 19. GM engineers are "looking at one common solution" for all the recalled Cadillacs, "but they don't have it yet," Adler said.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which oversees safety recalls, released details on the incidents. Cadillac shifted to a push-button ignition on most of the CTS 2014 models, which avoids the problem.
GM has called on owners of recalled vehicles to remove all other items from the key ring, including the fob itself, in order only have the ignition key. The Detroit company has also called on drivers to better adjust their seats and steering wheels "to allow clearance between their knee and the ignition key."
Thus far this year, GM has recalled over 14.5 million vehicles across the world due to their ignition switch problems, which have been linked to at least 16 deaths.
The controversy surrounding GM has seen CEO Mary Barra face questioning in the U.S. Congress over her company's response to the recalls, which senators say has been inadequate, even going as far as calling for the company's top lawyer to be let go.
GM has also been forced to pay $35 million as a result of its negligence, according to the Department of Transportation, which said the company failed to respond in an appropriate manner.
GM admits that it did not inform the government agency of the defect in the allotted time, and it also has agreed to deliver to the DOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration "full access to the results of GM's internal investigation into this recall."
