|
 As with any products, cars are subject to manufacturing defects and safety issues that don't always surface until they've been purchased by thousands of people, and sometimes those problems go undetected for many years. Until, that is, the day it's the front page of every newspaper and headline of every newscast. Following are some of the most notable and most costly automobile recalls in American history.
Explosive Pinto
The vastness of this recall, combined with the severity of the problem, makes it one of the most notable and costly recalls in history. In fact, it made such an impact, the name "Pinto" has become synonymous with "lemon" in the car industry. This recall affected year models 1971 through 1976. The recall was made official in 1978 as over 1 million cars were recalled. A rear-end collision could result in damage to the gas tank and cause an explosion. Although the solution to this problem turned out to be a part costing only $11 at the time, the volume of cars sold caused this to be a multi-million dollar recall plus settlement fees for injuries and deaths resulting from the unprotected gas tank. Unfortunately, many paid a higher price--their lives--when the cars caught fire prior to the recall.
Fast Toyotas
One of the largest recalls in recent history is that of Toyota. Models manufactured from 2004 to 2010, including the popular Camry and Avalon, were recalled after accidents received widespread publicity. In these accidents, drivers lost control of their vehicles after the accelerator pedal became stuck, leading to dangerous acceleration of the vehicle. As a result, at least one person died, many more were injured, and vehicles sustained major damage. The resulting recall affected 9 million Toyota and Lexus cars and SUVs. The repairs to the accelerator cost the company over $5 billion dollars, a price tag matched by no other auto recall in history.
Shifting Fords
The Ford Motor Company has been plagued by numerous recalls over the decades, many of moderate to high severity. In 1980, a problem was discovered that would lead to a vehicle going from a parked gear to reverse. The dangers of such a problem are obvious, and many people died or were injured due to the transmission flaw. A total of 21 million cars, trucks, and vans were recalled, every Ford model year 1976 to 1980. This recall cost Ford more than 10 times the amount paid to repair faulty Pintos just two years prior and makes this the most widespread auto recall in automotive history.
Ford Infernos
Ford made the news again in 1996 with a massive recall of almost 9 million vehicles. The cost of this recall topped $200 million dollars. When combined with the number of vehicles affected, this amount makes this a sizeable recall. And the problem itself had considerable consequences. The ignition switch in models covering a half decade (1988-1993) could spontaneously spark and catch fire even when the vehicle was not in use, making it particularly dangerous and unpredictable. The subsequent fires caused numerous injuries and widespread property damage prior to correction of the issue.
Recalls for problems range from small annoyances to major catastrophes are a constant part of the automobile industry, but the above mentioned have made their mark on history. May their impacts never be outdone.
Editor's Note: Auto blogger Tina Weir understands the importance of having quality car parts. She frequently writes about automotive issues and custom fabrication parts.
Image credit: MyBlogGuest.com
| 
Re: The 4 Most Costly Auto Recalls Of All Time
