GM Accused Of Knowingly Selling Faulty Airbags

This lawsuit could impact the company for years to come.

When we purchase cars, we do so with a simple assumption: this car has been properly vetted for safety. That’s why it's always shocking when recalls are announced. But it’s even more shocking, and sometimes downright scary when recalls are announced for risky manufacturing decisions that companies intentionally made.

Recently, General Motors Company has had a class-action lawsuit filed against them alleging that they intentionally concealed defects in airbags and seatbelts, and at least 1,298 people have died or been injured as a result.

A Trip Back in Time:

In 1999, GM employed Delco Electronics. These engineers were commissioned to design an SDM module, or “Sensing and Diagnostic Module”: the sensor in a car responsible for deciding when to deploy airbags and lock seat belts.

Delco Electronics advised GM that the SDM should be programmed to deploy airbags at 45 milliseconds of indication that an accident occurred. However, the lawsuit claims GM deliberately ignored this advice and set their SDMs at 150 milliseconds.

Later in 2009, GM had to file for bankruptcy and reorganized itself as a new entity.