Product Warranty and Related Liabilities (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Product Warranties Disclosures [Abstract]

Product Warranty and Related Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block]

Product Warranty and Related Liabilities

The following table summarizes activity for policy, product warranty, recall campaigns and courtesy transportation (dollars in millions):

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2015			September 30, 2014			September 30, 2015			September 30, 2014
Balance at beginning of period	$	9,296		$	10,528		$	9,646		$	7,601
Warranties issued and assumed in period – recall campaigns and courtesy transportation	299			173			685			2,658
Warranties issued and assumed in period – policy and product warranty	576			595			1,742			1,904
Payments	(939		)	(1,319		)	(3,045		)	(3,103		)
Adjustments to pre-existing warranties	132			206			461			1,095
Effect of foreign currency and other	(111		)	(160		)	(236		)	(132		)
Balance at end of period	$	9,253		$	10,023		$	9,253		$	10,023

In the nine months ended September 30, 2014 we recorded charges of approximately $2.7 billion in Automotive cost of sales for the recall of approximately 34 million vehicles as described in our 2014 Form 10-K. We had historically accrued estimated costs related to recall campaigns in GMNA when probable and reasonably estimable, which typically occurs once it is determined a specific recall campaign is needed and announced. During the three months ended September 30, 2014 we began accruing the costs for recall campaigns at the time of vehicle sale in GMNA.