The FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York have opened a criminal investigation of General Motors over the company's handling of an ignition switch defect that's been linked to at least 12 deaths.

One possible issue: Did GM violate a law that requires car makers to give the federal government timely notice of defects?

When Michigan Rep. Fred Upton authored the Tread Act 14 years ago, it was after certain Firestone tires on Ford Explorers caused accidents that killed nearly 300 people.

The Tread Act gave manufacturers five days to report defects related to deaths and injuries to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They're called early warning reports.

"The law said five days, not five years, not 10 years, and we're going to find out why the law may not have worked the way that it was intended," Upton said.

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