GM ignition switch deaths
The phrase “GM ignition switch deaths” refers to a widely reported automotive safety failure in which an ignition switch could rotate out of the run position. This movement interrupted the starter circuit and cut electrical power while driving, disabling airbags and power assist. For a reader researching the subject, the essential distinction is between a physical defect that causes stalling and the wider injury or fatality claims linked to that stalling event. Understanding how the switch creates that risk, and how the related diagnostic checks differ, provides the core answer.
Essential answer
The essential answer is that a defective ignition switch design could allow the key cylinder to move from run to accessory or off with minimal force. Heavy keychains, road vibration, or a driver’s knee could contribute to that rotation. When the switch left the run position, the engine stalled and the electrical system lost the circuits that support airbag deployment. That sequence meant a low-speed collision after a stall could occur without frontal airbag protection, turning an otherwise survivable crash into a fatal one.
That failure chain differs from ordinary no-start problems involving battery state of charge, cranking speed, or fuel delivery. A worn ignition switch can still allow a normal crank in some situations, but the real hazard was the loss of power while moving. Diagnostic checks for this condition often focus on switch spring force, key detent feel, and whether accessory load changes with slight key movement. The reported deaths are therefore tied to unintended shutdown and unpowered restraint systems, not simply a vehicle that failed to start.