2013 Caprice Cop Car
The 2013 Chevrolet Caprice, which is sold as both a passenger car and a police cruiser, is part of a recent GM recall notice. The ignition key in these cars can easily slip out of the run position while the car is in motion if the key is bumped with a driver's knee. GM

General Motors Co. has added nearly 50,000 more cars to its list of more than 14 million vehicles identified this year as having ignition key slippage problems. The latest GM recall notice covers the 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 and the 2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice.

“There is a risk, under certain conditions, that some drivers may bump the ignition key with their knee and unintentionally move the key away from the ‘run’ position,” GM said in a Sept. 4 letter to dealers posted on the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website late Friday (pdf). “If this occurs, engine power, and power braking will be affected and power steering may be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.”

This is the latest of six recalls announced this year involving problems with the ignition system in over 14 million GM cars whose ignition keys can slip out of the run position. But only 2.6 million of these vehicles are covered by the company’s recently established $400 million victims’ compensation fund.

At least 23 deaths and 53 accidents have been linked to the faulty ignition switch in those vehicles. GM so far has received nearly 900 claims, including 153 for death and 70 for life-altering injuries such as paralysis or amputation (pdf). Though the potential for the key to slip out of the run position exists in all of the more than 14 million vehicles, GM distinguishes between the ignition switch flaw in the 2.6 million cars and problems in nearly 12 million other cars, trucks and SUVs it says are linked to the ignition key, or the keyhole of the ignition cylinder.

Below is an updated list of all key rotation problems in GM cars. On Saturday GM updated its list of all recalls announced this year. The total number stands at 30 million, of which 26.5 million are GM vehicles in the U.S. The Detroit automaker has issued 74 recall notices so far this year.

Vehicles GM has identified as having “Unintended Ignition Key Rotation”

Announced Saturday:
2008-2009 Pontiac G8
2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice

Previously announced:
Chevrolet Malibu, 1997-2005
Chevrolet Impala, 2000-2005
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 2000-2005
Pontiac Grand Am, 1999-2005
Pontiac Grand Prix, 2004-2008
Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1998-2002
Oldsmobile Alero, 1999-2004
Cadillac CTS, 2003-2014
Cadillac SRX, 2004-2006

Here are all of the other GM cars identified as having some kind of trouble with the ignition key remaining in place:

“Key FOB Can Bump Ignition”
Chevrolet Camaro, 2010-2014

“Key Replacement from Slot to Hole”
Buick Allure, 2005-2009
Buick LaCrosse, 2005-2009
Buick Lucerne, 2006-2011
Chevrolet Impala, 2006-2014
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 2006-2007
Cadillac Deville, 2000-2005
Cadillac DTS, 2007-2011

“Unintended Ignition Key Rotation”
Chevrolet Malibu, 1997-2005
Chevrolet Impala, 2000-2005
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 2000-2005
Pontiac Grand Am, 1999-2005
Pontiac Grand Prix, 2004-2008
Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1998-2002
Oldsmobile Alero, 1999-2004
Cadillac CTS, 2003-2014
Cadillac SRX, 2004-2006

“Ignition Key Pullout in Run Position”
Saturn Vue, 2002-2004

Here are the vehicles GM has identified with an “Ignition Switch Torque Performance” problem. These are the only models GM is covering in its compensation fund:

Chevrolet Cobalt, 2005-2010*
Chevrolet HHR, 2006-2011*
Pontiac Pursuit, 2003-2007
Pontiac Solstice, 2006-2010*
Pontiac G5, 2007-2010*
Saturn Ion, 2003-2007*
Saturn Sky, 2007-2010*
Opel/Vauxhall GT, 2007-2010
Daiwoo G2X, 2007-2009

(Asterisk indicates cars that also need an ignition cylinder replacement.)

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