GM is currently in the middle of a massive recall involving ignition switches in nearly 1.37 million GM vehicles between 2003 and 2007. Apparently, while driving down the road, the ignition switch can bounce into the off position. In the event of a crash, if the ignition switch is in the off position, the airbags will not deploy. So far, there have been 13 deaths linked to the faulty switch. GM is advising drivers to remove everything, including the key fob, from the key ring so that the ignition key is the only thing attached. If you on a Chevy Cobalt, Pontiac G5, Saturn ION, Chevy HHR, Pontiac Solstice, or Saturn Sky you may be affected. Here’s how to get your vehicle fixed.

READ: How To Check for Recalls on a Vehicle

recall

This sticker will appear on recall notices to make them stand out.

Contact your local dealership directly. General Motors has not yet mailed recall notices to affected individuals, but being proactive here will not hurt. A lot of vehicles are being recalled, and being first in line for the fix means you will get the vehicle back sooner.

cobalt

The Chevy Cobalt is one of the vehicles affected. (Photo: Shutterstock)

SPECIAL NOTE: If you purchased one of these vehicles used, ownership information may not have been updated with GM. Even if you do not receive the mailing, you might have an affected vehicle. Be sure to check online to determine if your vehicle is affected.

Schedule an appointment to have the vehicle looked at. The dealership will want to investigate to ensure that your car suffers from the problem. The service manager at the dealership will work with you on a good time to come in, and keep you apprised of updates.

g5

The Pontiac G5 is also affected by the recall.

Ask for a loaner vehicle. Not every dealership will be offering a loaner, but we expect many will. Matt Baker, General Manager of David Stanley Chevrolet in Oklahoma City told us, “David Stanley Chevrolet takes all recalls seriously.  We will be providing rental vehicles free of charge for any customer that is affected by this GM recall.”

Be patient. There are a large number of vehicles being recalled, and it will take a bit for GM to get everything figured out. If the dealership is unable to provide a loaner, remove all items from your key ring, leaving only the ignition key. The keyless entry keyfob needs to also be removed.

The recall will be performed free of change from General Motors. If a dealership attempts to charge you for anything related to this recall, walk away. GM will reimburse dealerships for the recall repair so there should be no reason for a service department to charge.

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The Saturn ION uses the same ignition technology, and is part of the recall.

Alternatively, if you feel unsafe with the vehicle, now might be a good time to trade it in. In order to keep customers happy, dealerships may be providing incentives to buy another GM product. David Stanley Chevrolet is offering customers an additional $1000 in incentives to trade the recalled vehicle in for a new one. That might end up being a pretty good deal. The recall shouldn’t affect trade-in value, because it’s an easy fix and should make it easy to resell the car. Plus, the additional money helps with a new payment tremendously. For people who were already looking to trade, this might be a golden opportunity for them.

This is a serious recall, and is something that should definitely be fixed if it affects you. We hope that covering the recall process with you makes it a little bit easier when it comes to getting it fixed. Hopefully, you’ll be back in a fixed and safe car soon.