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How can a faulty ignition switch cause an accident?
Faulty brakes = yes.
Faulty suspension = yes.
Faulty tyres = yes.
Even loose fitting mats/carpets = possible yes.
Faulty Ignition switch = How?
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Well...have you ever tried to corner with the steering lock on? 
Or if the ignition goes off, so does the ABS, brake vacuum assistance, power steering, ...
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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I have never tried that but I have had a question in my mind regarding this?
Surely if the wheels are turning when the ignition switch is turned to the off position - the steering should not lock.
I realise this demonstrates a lack of engineering understanding but it does seem pretty bloody obvious to me that if the wheels are turning the steering lock should not be applied.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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A friend of mine used to specialise in buying cheap heaps: he was driving us back from the pub in one and talking about how rubbish it was (but very, very cheap) buy pulling the keys out and throwing them in the back with us. This was fine, and we (being somewhat inebriated) thought this very funny. Util we came to the bend, and he found the steering lock did still work...
Nobody was injured, but I think he just left the car in the field. We certainly did. 
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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If the steering lock is coming on then you have a point. But isn't it normally a desperate mechanical interlock, and can only engage when the key is physically removed.
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Depends what happens when the switch malfunctions, I guess.
Failure has a lot of modes!
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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GuyThiebaut wrote: Surely if the wheels are turning when the ignition switch is turned to the off position - the steering should not lock.
If the ignition switch is turned all the way to the off position, then whatever equipment it is that determines whether "the wheels are turning" (as you put it) would no longer be running as well.
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Not necessarily - I am not a mechanical engineer, however an electromagnet could hold the switch from falling into place when the wheels are turning(the turning of the wheels could run a small generator - on many jets the RAT auto-deploys if the APU fails and this then powers the hydraulics and essential flight avionics - it's a similar principal).
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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Car companies will do everything they can if it means they can save 50 cents per vehicle they sell. Do you think they're going to design a system like that?
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Shifting the goalposts?
The point I was making had nothing to do with the politics of car companies but with engineering possibilities - I am sure that 50 years ago the same argument you have just given might have been heard about airbags.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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GuyThiebaut wrote: Shifting the goalposts?
Not at all--re-read the first item of yours that I quoted. As far as I interpreted it, we were discuss the current recall for the existing cars, not what system(s) could be designed to prevent the problem from happening.
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if the ignition goes off, so does the ABS, brake vacuum assistance, power steering, ...
And the airbags because when you have lost everything else, you are likely going to need the airbags..
Ken
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Reports state that the faulty switch turned off air bags...So even a relatively small crash can be devastating...
Skipper: We'll fix it.
Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this?
Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
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Perhaps we have become too dependant on modern safety devices. For example this morning on the way to work (road was obviously covered in slushy snow/ice) a driver overtook me at 80+ mph.
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Completely agree. Litigious society?
Peter Wasser
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell
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What happened in the US was the détente spring wasn't that strong, and the hole in the key for the ignition was off center, and, people were hanging loads of stuff off their key rings.
Result, hit a bump, the key turns to 'off' the steering lock comes on, the air bags are turned off, the engine dies, the steering becomes heavy and an accident ensues.
Moral is, don't hang all that crap off your key ring!
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Thanks for the explanation, I've seen key rings on key rings on key rings with keys on each, the whole lot must have weighed between 500g - 1Kg. It wouldn't be possible to design a lock strong enough for that.
The question is how can a manufacturer be held responsible for that.
I suppose there was no statement in the owners manual saying "warning only two keys allowed on key ring"
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Display Name Taken wrote: The question is how can a manufacturer be held responsible for that.
Its the US remember. 
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My wife has a bunch of crap on her key ring. The key for my Mustang is just a key, no ring at all. I trid to explain it to her, but she's not having it...
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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Funny, my wife is the same. She has a f***ing carabina on her car keys to hang all the sh*t on. Incredible.
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This explains it.
Perhaps a simple remedy is to have a weight-sensor/pressure-transducer attached to the key switch assembly beeping off when the weight exceeds a certain threshold. Wait, is this a simple remedy? Or how complicated will it be?
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My car was recalled. I now only have the car key and fob on the ring. It is a pain to have two key rings, one for car one for house.
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