GM Halts Sales of Cadillacs with Flawed Switches

General Motors Co. is telling its Cadillac dealers not to sell certain CTS and XRS sedans because the company hasn't figured out how to fix the vehicles' flawed ignition switches.

The don't-sell order covers 554,300 of the company's 2003-2014 CTS and 2004-2006 SRX models equipped with a key ignition. The order doesn't include CTS models with push-button ignition switches.

The affected switches are not the same design as the 2.6 million devices GM began recalling in February. But both types exhibit the same defect: They can be jogged out of the "run" position by the driver's knee or a bump in the road.

GM has been addressing the problem by replacing the original slotted ignition keys with units that have a central hole for the keyring. But the company tells Reuters the fix doesn't appear to work with second-generation switches used in 2008-2014 model CTS cars.

Last month GM recalled 511,500 of its 2010-2014 Chevrolet Camaro sport coupes worldwide to remedy switches that could the jostled out of the "run" position. It is fixing the Camaro problem by issuing a lighter key to replace the switchblade-type key/fob unit supplied originally.

A GM spokesman tells Reuters the company is still looking for a single fix that works for all the recalled Cadillacs. In the meantime, the company is urging owners of all ignition-related recall vehicles to use the ignition key alone, with no ring or fob attached. GM also advises drivers to adjust the steering column and driver's seat to create clearance between the key and their knees.