Washington (AFP) – General Motors chief executive Mary Barra said Thursday that the company would take full responsibility for the faulty ignition scandal and compensate victims of accidents tied to the defects.

Barra said the saga of the Chevrolet Cobalt ignitions, which led to at least 13 deaths, was “riddled with failure” but that there was no management conspiracy to cover up 11 years of inaction.

Photo: Jim Watson via AFP