(MENAFN) General Motors said it ordered new ignition switches months before it began recalling cars with the defective parts linked to at least 32 deaths, AFP reported.

The largest US automaker placed an "urgent" order for a half-million new ignition switches on December 18 to replace defective switches, a day after a meeting of senior executives.

That was almost two months before GM alerted federal safety regulators about the defect. GM, which is involved in lawsuits over the faulty ignition switches, only began its recall of some 2.6 million cars in February.

"It isn't uncommon for automakers, before a recall, to check on parts availability and place orders for parts," The Wall Street Journal said, citing emails between GM and its supplier Delphi Automotive.