The program has received a total of 1772 applications, mostly related to injuries, according to an update released on Monday. Only 61 have been approved so far, guaranteeing compensation for 30 deaths and 31 injuries.
The latest numbers show an increasing gap between GM’s own death count, which stands at 13, and the tally of fatalities that have been deemed eligible for compensation under the program. A data analysis of anomalous deaths in affected vehicles suggested the company may have underestimated by a factor of five or more.
The automaker has allocated $400 million to pay victims and families, however it will likely face a much higher penalty if the Department of Justice pursues a settlement to resolve any potential criminal charges.
In the meantime, safety watchdogs have shifted their attention to Honda, Takata and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The companies and the agency are all facing criticism over their roles in the exploding airbag recall, though current estimates suggest the problem is responsible for far fewer deaths than GM’s defective ignition switches.
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