GM investigation finds “pattern of incompetence and neglect.”

The New York Times (6/5, Vlasic, Subscription Publication, 9.65M) reports that GM’s internal investigation, released on Thursday, “found ‘a pattern of incompetence and neglect’ in its decade-long failure to recall millions of defective small cars but concluded that there was no deliberate cover-up,” according to CEO Mary Barra. She “said 15 employees had been dismissed, most in senior and executive roles, and five others had been disciplined.” However, the report “did not tie Ms. Barra and her top lieutenants to the recall delay that G.M. has linked to 13 deaths and 47 crashes.”

        In its lead story, The CBS Evening News (6/5, lead story, 3:00, Glor, 5.08M) reports that the investigation was “conducted by an attorney who does have a long relationship with GM” and “found the company discovered there were problems with ignition switches as early as 1999. Documents show engineers refer to it as the ‘switch from hell,’ which caused cars to inadvertently shut off.”

        ABC World News (6/5, story 5, 2:05, Muir) reported that Barra is “keeping her job.” ABC (Jarvis) added, “the investigation found no evidence of a cover-up and cleared Barra of any wrongdoing. A point she stood by since the beginning.”

        The Wall Street Journal (6/5, Bennett, Ramsey, Subscription Publication, 5.51M) reports that Barra, meeting with employees, said, “What [the report] found was a pattern of incompetence and neglect. We will accept responsibility for our mistakes, and we will do everything in our power to make sure this never happens again. This is a test of our character and our values. We are not hiding from the truth.”