Bob Hilliard, a lawyer for Mr. Scheuer, expressed disappointment that the trial had ended in such an “unexpected and unforeseen way.”

Image A recalled Chevy Cobalt ignition switch. The part is at the heart of several lawsuits. Credit... John Gress/Reuters

“Especially one such as this where the concerns regarding the underlying safety of certain G.M. vehicles are legitimate and real,” he said in an email. “A jury’s decision regarding the existence of a defect will have to wait until the next trial.”

In February 2014, G.M. began recalling what eventually added up to 2.6 million Chevrolet Cobalts, Ions and other small cars for a defect in the ignition switch. If jostled, the switch could unexpectedly shut off, cutting power to the engine and disabling airbags, power steering and power brakes. G.M., through its compensation program, has acknowledged that at least 124 deaths were linked to the defect.

Mr. Scheuer, 49, claimed that the defective ignition switch in his car prevented the airbags from deploying during his accident, leading to neck and back injuries. G.M. has disputed his claim that the airbags should have deployed and has argued that Mr. Scheuer’s injuries did not stem from the crash. G.M. also disputed testimony that linked the injuries with the Scheuers’ eviction from their home. G.M. claimed that Mr. Scheuer and his wife, Lisa, had fabricated a story about their eviction from their home, which occurred about four months after the car accident. The automaker contended that Mr. Scheuer had altered a federal government check stub to show “proof of funds” to move into the family’s new house, but when his real estate agent found out, the family was evicted.

The real estate agent approached G.M. after the trial started, the automaker said, after hearing about the case from a program on the radio.

Both of the Scheuers had already testified in the trial about the eviction, and the company said it was ready to provide evidence that they had lied. Though this twist was not directly related to whether the airbags in Mr. Scheuer’s car should or should not have deployed in his crash, it might have poked holes in the Scheuers’ credibility with the jury.

“The apparent lies the plaintiff and his wife told the jury ended the trial early, and we are pleased that the case is over without any payment whatsoever to Mr. Scheuer,” Jim Cain, a company spokesman, said in a statement.