Lawyer asks feds to force GM to explain recall timing

The federal safety agency officially has been asked to require General Motors to explain why it only now has recalled 619,122 U.S.-market 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt and similar 2007 Pontiac G5 cars to replace faulty ignition switches blamed for at least six deaths.

Documents in a now-settled civil lawsuit against GM show the car company knew of a potential faulty ignition defect leading to engine stalling in 2004, before it launched the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt.

Federal safety rules mandate that an automaker notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration within five business days after the company identifies a safety problem.

"Testimony of GM engineers and documents produced in Melton v. General Motors et. al., show that the automaker actually knew about the defective ignition switch in these vehicles in 2004 before it began selling" the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, says the letter to  NHTSA from Lance Cooper, the plantiff's lawyer in the lawsuit.

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