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I find it a little difficult to blame the engineers for not creating a new part number, because control of part numbers is really a business-oriented matter for things like corporate databases and inventory control. Even a revised part should normally get a new number since it would be superseding or at the very least supplementing the original (and in this case questionable/suspect/deficient/defective - your choice) part. Any "cover-up" belongs either within the entity charged with part number control or with anybody with the authority to direct that the same old part number be maintained for the new and improved part.
FWIW, in Ford's part numbering system, such a change in the ignition switch would get the new part a different suffix while keeping the same prefix and main part number. I'm not trying to say that's a better system, although once you understand its logic it's probably easier to realize that revisions to parts have been made.
Norm
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