Here we are, barely through the fifth month of the year and as of this week, General Motors (GM) has now recalled some 13.6 million vehicles. No, that’s not a typo. 13.6 million. 

Should consumers be worried? Is there cause for concern? Is the GM vehicle you are driving a danger to you and your family?

Assume you answer the questions affirmatively; there are then unsettling feelings, a cloud of doom lurking over the automotive consuming public. Does GM produce unsafe cars? Do they and other major manufacturers the world over make dumb mistakes?

GM recalled nearly 10,000 of its 2014 cars on May 7, for example, because they might have rear brakes on the front wheels. Seriously?

Some industry analysts would have us believe that the seemingly unending and rapid pace of recalls is even intentional. GM is scouring its records to discover and hopefully purge any lurking safety issues. Will other manufacturers follow suit? 

To be clear, new GM CEO Mary Barra wants everyone who will listen to know that post 2009 (bankruptcy) GM is a better company, focusing on customers and safety instead of the cost-cutting that “drove” the pre-bankruptcy company.

From USA Today, George Hoffer, a transportation economist at the University of Richmond who has studied the auto industry for 40 years, says, “…such a drumbeat of recalls is not likely to matter.” His research shows that (major) recalls have no effect on the sale of a company's new or used cars. Hoffer continues by stating that the (United States) government's emphasis on "airing every recall no matter how inconsequential" will make recalls "so common as to be a non-event."

GM last week was fined the maximum US$35 million for the “delay” on the recall of 2.6 million 2003-11 small cars with a faulty ignition switch which GM links 12 U.S. deaths and one in Canada. 

Furthermore, the recall situation may not be over. GM has already informed regulators about two more recalls – imminent, but yet to be announced.

This is all about numbers. Not all dumb mistakes lead to injury or even death. Is there such a thing as a number of serious, life-changing injuries and deaths where manufacturing “errors” become acceptable? Let’s hope not.

Do you remember the terrible Ford Explorer and Firestone tire debacle?