Auto safety chief says GM didn’t share key data

WASHINGTON— A federal safety regulator says General Motors didn’t share key information that might have led to a faster recall of small cars.

In written testimony to a House subcommittee, acting National Highway Traffic Safety Administration chief David Friedman says GM had information connecting defective ignition switches to the non-deployment of air bags, but didn’t share it until last month.

GM has recalled 2.6 million small cars because their ignition switches can fall out of the run position, causing car engines to stall and air bags to fail.

House and Senate subcommittees plan hearings starting Tuesday to find out why GM didn’t recall the cars sooner and why the government never investigated the cars.

Friedman says NHTSA considered an investigation but decided GM’s air bag failure rates weren’t higher than peers.