Yet, it was discovered that during extreme moments of vibrations, or even with the presence of heavy objects on a keychain, the switch would change modes from Run to Accessory without the intent of the driver. The switch was required to withstand exposure to a vibration environment without damage or loss of function. cm, a force so little that made it prone to changes in modes which could potentially shut off the engine.The torque, or rotational power that prevents the ignition switch from changing modes, was required to be between 10 N General Motors did not meet two specific requirements - torque required and vibration environment - for the ignition switch. In November 2014 emails surfaced that showed GM ordered a half-million replacement ignition switches nearly two months before ordering a recall. This announcement brought the total number of recalled cars in North America to about 29 million. On June 30, 2014, GM announced they were going to recall 8.45 million additional cars, almost all of which were being recalled for defective ignition switches. They also announced that they intended to replace the cars' keys, because if they did not, the ignition switches could rotate, causing the car's engines to shut off, disabling power steering. On June 16, 2014, GM announced they were recalling 3.4 million more cars, all of which were produced from 2000 to 2004. On May 15, GM recalled 2.7 million more cars, bringing the total number of recalled vehicles in 2014 to 12.8 million worldwide, 11.1 million of which were in the United States. The total number of cars recalled during 2014 as of 1 April was 6.26 million. Of these, over 1.3 million were in the United States, and three of the models were also involved in the faulty ignition recall. On March 31, GM announced it was going to recall over 1.5 million more cars of six different models, due to faulty power steering.

The first recall was announced on February 7, 2014, and involved about 800,000 Chevrolet Cobalts and Pontiac G5s. As part of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement, GM agreed to forfeit $900 million to the United States. The fault had been known to GM for at least a decade prior to the recall being declared. The company continued to recall more of its cars over the next several months, resulting in nearly 30 million cars recalled worldwide and paid compensation for 124 deaths. The General Motors ignition switch recalls refers to Februwhen General Motors recalled about 800,000 of its small cars due to faulty ignition switches, which could shut off the engine while the vehicle was in motion and thereby prevent the airbags from inflating. Pontiac G5, one of the models recalled by GMģ0 million cars worldwide recalled paid compensation for 124 deaths forfeited $900 million to the United States

Bad ignition switch