General Motors Company (GM) led the pack, with over 80 recalls covering more than 30.4 million vehicles, in North America alone. The company initiated a series of recalls after it became embroiled in various lawsuits and investigations for the delayed recall of vehicles with defective ignition switches. It had to pay a fine of $35 million to the U.S. safety regulators in relation to the late recall. This marks the maximum amount of monetary penalty which the government can impose.