OSHAWA, Ontario -

General Motors Canada announced this week yet another recall for the GM brand, bringing the company’s total count for the year closer toward 50.

In the company’s 44th recall this year — General Motors will rework or replace the ignition keys on 187,972 cars in Canada from the 2000 to 2014 model years.

In these vehicles, the ignition switch may inadvertently move out of the “run” position if the key is carrying extra weight and experiences some jarring event.

“The use of a key with a hole, rather than a slotted key, addresses the concern of unintended key rotation due to a jarring road event, such as striking a pothole or crossing railroad tracks,” the company said.

The recall’s total North American impact is significant, covering more than 3.3 million units, and GM is aware of eight crashes and six injuries related to this recall.

The automaker expects to spend up to approximately $700 million in Q2 for recall-related repairs.

The recall impacts the following models: 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, 2000 to 2005 Cadillac Deville, 2004-2011 Cadillac DTS, the 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, the 2004 and 2005 Buick Regal LS and GS, and the Chevy Monte Carlo from the 2006 through 2008 model years. 

This recall comes on the heels of a similar issue announced back in February, when the company recalled 2.6 million Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars.

If the ignition switch moves out of the “run” position, there is an effect on power steering and power braking. In addition, the timing of the key movement out of the “run” position, relative to the activation of the sensing algorithm of the crash event, may result in the air bags not deploying, the company explained.

To fix these vehicles, GM said it will add an insert to the ignition keys of the recalled vehicles to close the slot and leave a 4×6-millimeter hole through which the key ring could be attached.

On the other hand, in vehicles where the key cover has been worn, new keys with holes instead of slots will be provided free of charge.

Rework of the keys — adding key inserts — at GM dealerships is expected to begin in the next few weeks. Until the rework or replacement is completed, owners of the recalled cars are urged to remove additional weight from their key chains and drive with only the ignition key, the company shared.

In addition to the ignition key recall, GM also announced Canadian recalls for 13,764 vehicles in these four actions:

  • 6,135 model year 2013-14 Cadillac ATS and 21,863 model year 2014 Cadillac CTS sedans for transmission problems.
  • 6,778 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 HD and 2015 GMC Sierra 2500/3500 GMC Sierra HD to inspect for proper attachment of power steering hose clamps to the power steering pump.
  • 790 model year 2011 Cadillac CTS sedans with AWD for possible gasket leaks, where the constant velocity joint meets the rear propeller shaft may cause the rear propeller shaft to separate or become loose, making contact with the vehicle floor above and causing the rollover sensor to deploy the roof rail air bags.
  • 61 model year 2014 Chevrolet Corvettes with optional Competition Sport Seats, because an unbelted child and door trim may block the passenger seat side air bag vent in a deployment.