You couldn't be more correct. GM knew about the safety defect in 2005, corrected it and not only did not recall existing cars on the road but covered it up, that criminal act cost many more lives and hundreds of additional injuries.
So how many private fixes of this are taking place? While they shouldn’t need to be dinging the car owner like this, that would be a measure of genuine public concern.
One woman was put in jail for murder because her car’s ignition switch malfunctioned and her passenger died. GM denied they knew of any problem with her car’s design that would have caused this all while they knew different.
Ms. Anderson spent most of a decade in jail because GM lied. Now GM isn’t apologizing and won’t pay restitution.