Photo: GM
Remember that recall GM announced back in June? If you don't, we'll remind you that the entire Chevrolet Camaro production run from the 2010 - 2014 model years has been recalled because the ignition key is prone to move out the 'run' position from driving over a rough surface, under load or if the driver bumps his or her knee in it. The Camaro is not the only model suffering from ignition key and/or switch issues.
A report published recently by AutomotiveNews informs that General Motors has recently told its U.S. dealers to stop putting promotional tags on the keys of new and old vehicles to minimize the chances of moving the ignition key out of the 'run' position. This recommendation is a tad late if you consider that General Motors recommended owners of the Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac G5 recalled in February over faulty ignition switches to strip their keys of every doodad that dangles freely. And not only them.
The dealer notice goes like "GM is requesting that dealers no longer place rigid items, such as leather or plastic tags, on vehicle key rings." This announcement had a big echo coming from the key tag industry. Speaking to the aforementioned publication, the CEO of Sharp Performance USA Grant Stoddart has declared: "I can understand their concern and their being cautious, but I'm not sure that telling their dealers to do this is going to help. Customers like to get something free, and dealers like to get their name out there. To our knowledge, there's never been an issue in the past and no other manufacturer has raised any concerns."
This man's company sells millions of promotional key tags to General Motors dealers on a yearly basis, so it's only natural that Mr. Stoddart isn't too happy about this turn of events. When all is said and done, this financial blow for Sharp Performance USA will ultimately translate to safer General Motors vehicles. Mr. Stoddart, the faulty ignition key and switches will be fixed by the end of the year, so don't give us the "customers like to get something free" mantra because many people died in Chevy Cobalt crashes.
The dealer notice goes like "GM is requesting that dealers no longer place rigid items, such as leather or plastic tags, on vehicle key rings." This announcement had a big echo coming from the key tag industry. Speaking to the aforementioned publication, the CEO of Sharp Performance USA Grant Stoddart has declared: "I can understand their concern and their being cautious, but I'm not sure that telling their dealers to do this is going to help. Customers like to get something free, and dealers like to get their name out there. To our knowledge, there's never been an issue in the past and no other manufacturer has raised any concerns."
This man's company sells millions of promotional key tags to General Motors dealers on a yearly basis, so it's only natural that Mr. Stoddart isn't too happy about this turn of events. When all is said and done, this financial blow for Sharp Performance USA will ultimately translate to safer General Motors vehicles. Mr. Stoddart, the faulty ignition key and switches will be fixed by the end of the year, so don't give us the "customers like to get something free" mantra because many people died in Chevy Cobalt crashes.
Google News