GM Recall: Customer Perception Drops After Ignition Switch Crisis

Apr 25, 2014 01:01 PM EDT | Matt Mercuro

Consumer perception of General Motors has dropped significantly within the last month or so in the wake of the company's controversial recall crisis.

YouGob BrandIndex, a consumer survey that tracks perceptions of companies all around the world, reported the news.

The overall perception of GM as a company has suffered more than any of its individual U.S. brands, according to the site.

Automakers are measured by YouGov BrandIndex's Buzz score.

Approximately 10,000 people were interviewed for the survey.

Respondents are asked a number of questions, including: "If you've heard anything about the brand in the last two weeks, through advertising, news or word of mouth, was it positive or negative?"

GM was within the 8 or 9 Buzz score during the first two months of 2014, which is two or three points below the auto sector average. GM started its slide around Feb. 11.

It took eight weeks for the company to hit the "apparent bottom" of a -33 Buzz score.

GM is currently at -26 at press time, according to the site.

The low score is mainly due to the way GM handled a recall of 2.6 million vehicles for defective ignition switches.

The recall has been linked to 13 deaths.

"GM's perception drop was not as immediate as the drop that Toyota experienced during its well-publicized 2010 recalls," YouGove BrandIndex said recently in a statement. "GM's apparent low point is only half the level of Toyota's nadir. Despite the small upturn, GM is still well into negative territory."

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