GM heeds consumer groups’ advocacy, commits to not sell used cars with safety issues

Aaron Colonnese

Former Content Creator, Editorial & Creative Team, The Public Interest Network

Just one industry in America openly accepts the selling of unsafe, recalled products to the public: the auto industry. But consumer advocates just gained an unlikely ally in the campaign for safer vehicles.

On March 31, PIRG and other leading consumer interest organizations publicly commended General Motors for the auto giant’s new commitment not to sell used vehicles with unrepaired safety recall defects on its soon-to-be-launched used car platform, CarBravo. PIRG has been campaigning for decades for stronger policies, both corporate and legislative, that protect Americans from unsafe vehicles.

“Catching on fire, faulty brakes, stalling in traffic, steering wheels that come off in the driver’s hands — all kinds of auto safety defects can make it into cars sold at our local dealerships, even after a vehicle has been recalled,” said Ed Mierzwinski, senior director of U.S. PIRG’s federal consumer program.

“While GM’s commitment is a big deal, it’s still important for Congress to make it a violation of federal law for any car dealer to sell unrepaired recalled used vehicles to consumers.”

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Photo: At a 2015 auto safety event, MASSPIRG Education Fund Legislative Director Deirdre Cummings details the shady practices of CarMax, a used car company that has been caught in numerous states selling cars with known safety defects identified by the manufacturer without first repairing them. Credit: Caley McGuane

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Aaron Colonnese

Former Content Creator, Editorial & Creative Team, The Public Interest Network