A Cornwall-area family believes their son’s death is linked to a massive recall by GM over faulty ignition components .

On October 18, 2012, 22-year-old Nick Baker died after his 2006 Saturn crossed into oncoming traffic. The airbags did not deploy.

His mother Suzanne Baker received a letter from GM yesterday, saying the Saturn is involved in a recall.

Millions of GM cars are being recalled across North America.  The faulty ignition switches can cause the car to shut down and lose power. This can also lead to the loss of power steering and stop airbags from deploying.

Thirteen people have died in the United States. Many of the families are suing GM.

The Bakers are the first Canadian family to come forward to say their family member died because of the problem with GM.

In a statement from the Baker’s lawyer, Russel Molot writes:

“Notice was provided to General Motors of the Bakers intention to sue for wrongful death and punitive damages given that GM knew of the defects for at least the past 10 years and did nothing about it.”

GM is being harshly criticized for knowing about the problem for years. Members of a U.S. Senate subcommittee have been questioning the company’s leadership on decisions surrounding the 57-cent ignition component.

At a House hearing, GM CEO Mary Barra testified before many of the victims’ families.

“When we have answers we will be fully transparent with you, our regulators and our customers,” says Barra.

“While I can’t turn back the clock as soon as I learned about the problem we acted without hesitation…it is tragic that there have been lives lost and lives impacted with this event,” she adds.

Barra pointed to a different company culture before GM filed for bankruptcy which was more cost-focused. She said many things have been done to change that.

Suzanne Baker says the recall letter she received from GM was addressed to her son Nick. Until then, the mother assumed her son’s death was a result of an accident. She thought Nick may have been reaching for a hamburger on the passenger seat before losing control of the vehicle.

Now, the family’s grief turns to devastation and anger over circumstances that may have been preventable.

Baker says she is coming forward to help alert drivers of other vehicles who may also be at risk.