General Misfortune

Santa Fe drivers with the misfortune of owning General Motors cars with recalled ignitions remain in a holding pattern while they wait for the manufacturer to deliver parts.

About 2.6 million Chevrolet Cobalts and HHRs, Saturn Ions and Skys and Pontiac G5s and Solstices made between 2003 and 2010 are on the list for replacements because their ignition switches are faulty and have led to at least 13 fatal accidents.

Despite frequent mail from the company, few of the car owners in the City Different have been able to arrange for repairs.

Bill Monroe, service department manager at Chevrolet Cadillac of Santa Fe, says parts that were first promised in April are just now starting to arrive at the dealership and a long list of customers are in line to receive them. While GM says its manufacturing operation is going around the clock, a report issued last week estimated only 7 percent of the vehicles that were recalled four months ago have been fixed.

Monroe says his department has been steadily fielding calls and referring people to a corporate website.

"Some are upset and very concerned, and some people have driven their car for 10 years and have not had a problem," he tells SFR. "We are doing everything we can to try to have an organized approach."

GM officials say all the required parts will be available by October. A worker at Reliable Chevrolet in Albuquerque said that dealership also has many customers who are waiting for parts to perform the recall.

Santa Fe Reporter