Ignition switch death toll hits 100: GM

DETROIT (AP) — The death toll from crashes caused by faulty ignition switches in 2.6 million older General Motors small cars, including the Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cobalt, has reached 100.

The number was updated Monday by attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who was hired by GM to compensate victims. It's the first acknowledgement by the company that the defective switches have caused at least 100 deaths.

The switches can unexpectedly slip from the run to off position, shutting down the engine and knocking out power-assisted steering and brakes. GM has admitted knowing of the problem for at least a decade, yet it didn't recall the cars until last year.