agent Entrepreneur logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

GM Ignition-Switch Death Claims Rise to 100

Survivors have filed about 100 claims for loved ones killed in one of 2.6 million recalled General Motors cars, according to a spokeswoman for Ken Feinberg, administrator of the automaker’s compensation fund, reported Detroit Free Press. As of Friday, claims also were filed by 184 people who were injured in one of the cars, which ... Read More »

August 26, 2014
2 min to read


Survivors have filed about 100 claims for loved ones killed in one of 2.6 million recalled General Motors cars, according to a spokeswoman for Ken Feinberg, administrator of the automaker’s compensation fund, reported Detroit Free Press.

As of Friday, claims also were filed by 184 people who were injured in one of the cars, which GM recalled beginning last February to replace defective ignition switches, Feinberg spokeswoman Amy Weiss said in an e-mail.

Ad Loading...

Each claimant must present evidence to establish that the defective ignition switch was the primary cause of the fatality or injury.

Feinberg will determine which claims will be compensated. Claims can be filed through the end of the year.

GM has publicly acknowledged 13 deaths connected to the defect, which can cause ignition switches in up to 2.6 million small cars to turn off when jostled, cutting off power to engines, air bags and other features.

The faulty switches were installed in Chevrolet Cobalts, Saturn Ions, Pontiac G5s, Chevrolet HHRs, Pontiac Solstices and Saturn Skys, mostly from the 2003-07 model years.

GM’s decision not to recall the cars until early this year despite evidence that some employees knew of the problem more than a decade earlier, triggered numerous lawsuits and investigations, including a criminal probe by the U.S. Justice Department.

Ad Loading...

The compensation fund is unlimited, but GM has estimated that it will cost $400 million-$600 million to settle all eligible claims. That doesn’t include potential payments to victims who choose to sue GM instead of accepting settlements. It doesn’t include any potential government fines.

Feinberg has spelled out extensive criteria for eligibility at GMIgnitionCompensation.com. If he determines that the defect was the “substantial cause” of the accident, he will use actuarial tables and average medical cost data to calculate the size of a payout. Families of people who died will get at least $1 million.

More Industry

Photo of MINI nameplate on the hood of a white MINI Cooper
Industryby Hannah MitchellJuly 23, 2026

Autos More Appealing

Consumers gave new cars better scores again this year for design, performance and more as mass-market brands kept gaining on premium lineups, JD Power found in an annual poll.

Read More →
red car parked in front of a sunset, The Used Market Divide, Agent Entrepreneur
Industryby Lauren LawrenceJuly 23, 2026

Used EVs Defy Overall Market

While the used-car market saw three months of price declines or stagnation, the used EV segment did the opposite – rising for three straight months.

Read More →
Photo of a retriever dog looking out of an open SUV window with a yellow Peugeot headrest on the top of the window below it
Industryby Hannah MitchellJuly 16, 2026

Gone to the Dogs

A Stellantis brand decided to have some fun with one of its SUVs’ design to address growing emphasis on family pets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Aerial shot of a car dealership
Industryby Hannah MitchellJuly 13, 2026

OEM Poll Sees Industry Evolution

Kerrigan Advisors’ survey of automakers finds that tariffs, technology, network tightening and other factors are poised to reshape auto retail.

Read More →
Foreign Cars Italia dealership store in front of sunset
Industryby Hannah MitchellJuly 2, 2026

Luxe N.C. Dealerships Change Hands

A collection of Italian and English brand franchises were handed off to the owner’s friend in the business and include the Carolinas’ only Ferrari retail stores.

Read More →
inside of car, person with hands on black steering wheel
Industryby Lauren LawrenceJuly 2, 2026

Exposure Drives Interest in Chinese Cars

At a recent demonstration, consumers had the chance to ride in a Chinese-branded vehicle, a firsthand experience that improved their perceptions and purchase intent.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Woman's hands holding an wallet empty of cash
Industryby Hannah MitchellJuly 1, 2026

Automotive Consumers Sink Further in Debt

Most financing metrics hit records in the second quarter as more buyers locked themselves into long terms and high monthly payments.

Read More →
Rob Mancuso sitting in a chair on stage
Industryby Hannah MitchellJuly 1, 2026

Agent Advocate

Rob Mancuso, who comes from a long line of auto dealers, values general agents’ place in the industry and makes a case for them taking an even bigger seat at the table.

Read More →
Photo of a touchscreen on a car's dashboard
Industryby Hannah MitchellJune 25, 2026

Driving Under Distraction

Though consumers gave higher marks to new vehicles in JD Power’s most recent initial-quality poll, high-tech interference worsened, pointing to craving for simplicity.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
split background green and blue. 2019 to 2025 with car going from starting location to end point. $37,310 and $48,402. Agent Entrepreneur logo
Industryby Lauren LawrenceJune 25, 2026

Affordable New Cars a Thing of the Past

More than one out of five new vehicles sell for more than $60,000, according to Edmunds. That's up 7% compared to prepandemic 2019.

Read More →
Ad Loading...