????NHTSA則表示，它不反對通用汽車多花一些時間來回答技術(shù)性問題。但文森特的信件顯示，許多尚未回答的問題都很簡單。

????其中一個問題和通用汽車重新設(shè)計點火開關(guān)有關(guān)。通用汽車一位工程師在2006年4月份批準(zhǔn)了對點火開關(guān)的改動，但相關(guān)零部件的編號一直未變——這種做法很不尋常，上周一些國會議員就此指責(zé)通用汽車掩蓋真相。

????汽車零部件制造商Delphi從2007年開始向通用汽車供應(yīng)經(jīng)過重新設(shè)計的點火開關(guān)。NHTSA在調(diào)查中詢問，通用汽車是否在其他時間批準(zhǔn)了對點火開關(guān)的改動。文森特的信件表明，通用汽車沒有回答這個問題以及其他一些質(zhì)詢。

????文森特在信中寫道：“宣布召回這些車輛兩個月后，通用汽車仍然不愿意或者無法告知NHTSA是否在其他時間更改過點火開關(guān)的設(shè)計，這一點讓人深感不安?！?/p>

????提交給美國眾議院監(jiān)督與調(diào)查附屬委員會（House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations）的文件顯示，早在2001年，對2003年款土星Ion的試產(chǎn)報告就已經(jīng)發(fā)現(xiàn)點火開關(guān)有問題。2004年，通用汽車接到投訴稱，一輛2005年款雪佛蘭Cobalt的車鑰匙會在行駛過程中從“開”變成“關(guān)”。通用汽車就此展開了技術(shù)性調(diào)查，但最終沒有采取任何行動。一年后，一位同年款雪佛蘭Cobalt的駕駛者在撞車事故中喪生。NHTSA對這次事故進(jìn)行調(diào)查后發(fā)現(xiàn)，前置安全氣囊并未打開，這輛車的鑰匙處于“附件”位置，而非“行駛”。

????受召回車輛的維修成本影響，通用汽車今年第一季度的費用已經(jīng)增加了一倍以上，達(dá)到7.50億美元。其中，今年3月份的三次召回產(chǎn)生的費用為3.00億美元，其他費用來自本次點火開關(guān)召回事件。（財富中文網(wǎng)）

????譯者：Charlie

????NHTSA says it didn't object to GM taking additional time to respond to technical engineering questions. Many of the requests that GM has yet to respond to are basic questions, according to the letter.

????Among them was a question regarding the redesign of the ignition switch. A GM engineer approved changes to the ignition switch in April 2006, but the parts number was never changed -- a highly unusual practice that prompted congressional lawmakers last week to accuse the automaker of a cover-up.

????Delphi began providing GM with the redesigned switch during the 2007 model year. In its investigation, NHTSA asked GM if it approved a change to the ignition switch at any other time. GM failed to respond to that, and other requests, according to the Vincent letter.

????"It is deeply troubling that two months after recalling the vehicles, GM is unwilling or unable to tell NHTSA whether the design of the switch changed at any other time," Vincent wrote in the letter.

????Problems with the ignition switch were identified as early as 2001 in a pre-production report for the model year 2003 Saturn Ion, according to documents provided to the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.In 2004 GM opened an engineering inquiry to look into a complaint that a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicle could be "keyed off" while driving. Ultimately, no action was taken. A year later, the driver of a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt was killed in a crash. A NHTSA investigation determined the frontal airbag system didn't deploy and that the vehicle power mode status was in "accessory," not "run."

????GM has more than doubled its first-quarter charge to $750 million to cover the cost of recall-related repairs. This amount includes a previously disclosed $300 million charge for three safety actions announced in March and the ignition switch recall.