U.S. safety regulators have recorded at least 303 deaths when airbags didn't deploy in approximately 1.6 million cars recalled last month by General Motors, according to a new information released by a safety watchdog group.
GM has said it received reports of 12 deaths in 34 crashes in the recalled vehicles.
GM failed to recall the affected vehicles until February, despite learning of ignition switch issues back in 2001, and issuing service bulletins to its dealers with suggested remedies back in 2005.
The auto maker is facing pressure to provide some sort of compensation to victims and create a $1 billion fund.
The Center for Auto Safety used fatality and crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS), according to Reuters.
GM responded to the new report saying it was based on "raw data" and "without rigorous analysis, it is pure speculation to attempt to draw any meaningful conclusions."
Clarence Ditlow, the center's executive director, was quoted saying, "NHTSA could and should have initiated a defect investigation to determine why airbags were not deploying in Cobalts and Ions in increasing numbers," according to Reuters.
GM recalled the cars because when the ignition switch is bumped, a key could turn off the car's engine and disable airbags, even if the car is moving.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx vowed this week an "aggressive investigation" to decide whether or not GM failed to report to the federal government its issues with ignition switches on the 2003-2007 Saturn Ion and 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt in a timely manner.
House and Senate committees have promised to hold hearings regarding the way GM and NHTSA's have handled the issue, and a criminal probe has been opened in New York, according to Reuters.
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