GM employees were instructed to avoid certain words and phrases in their correspondence about recalls and test drivers, according to internal company documents contained in a consent agreement, released Friday, between the U.S. government and General Motors Co. involving the recall of 2.6 million vehicles because of an ignition switch failure.
The documents include a list of words or phrases "that are to be avoided" and urges GM drivers who are testing vehicles to stick to the facts.
Such words as "widow-maker" "Kevorkianesque" "cataclysmic" should not be used in reports and presentation, the memo says. Company drivers should not describe problems as "scary for the customer" or "this is a lawsuit waiting to happen" and instead should simply say that windshield wipers did not work or doors had to be slammed several times to make sure they closed properly.