The automotive industry has witnessed many major scandals related to technical defects that pose risks to users.
Therefore, recalls are the best way to prevent breakdowns during use and to reduce the likelihood of accidents for users.
Here are some famous recalls in the history of the automotive industry.
The 1970s energy crisis prompted US automakers to produce smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Following suit, Ford launched the Pinto model.
The car attracted a lot of attention from users at the time, but after a period of use, it was found that the Ford Pinto had a fuel tank design flaw that made it prone to catching fire in low to medium-speed rear-end collisions.
According to Popular Mechanics, reports indicate that there were between 27 and 180 deaths due to Pinto fuel fires. This forced Ford to recall 1.5 million Pintos in 1980 and pay a huge amount to compensate for the consequences.
In 1996, Ford also faced a scandal by recalling 22.7 million vehicles due to a faulty ignition switch.
This large recall cost the US automaker around $435 million (equivalent to 10.72 trillion VND at the current exchange rate).
Volkswagen had to recall 3.7 million vehicles due to a faulty windscreen wiper. This prompted the NHTSA to launch an investigation and issue a recall order for all affected models.
In 2016, the automaker also recalled 11 million vehicles for not complying with EPA emissions regulations at the time.
This is one of the largest recalls in the history of the automotive industry, costing Volkswagen a total of $35 billion (862.75 trillion VND).
Italian automaker Fiat Chrysler had to recall 4.8 million vehicles due to a cruise control system defect that could pose a safety risk to users.
Many Toyota vehicles from 2009 – 2010 had a sticking accelerator pedal issue. In 2009, the company announced its first recall for improperly installed floor mats that could lead to pedal entrapment. The second recall began in January 2010 after Toyota discovered a mechanical problem that could cause the accelerator pedal to stick.
Estimates at the time indicated that Toyota had to recall nearly 9 million vehicles and pay a total of $16.4 million (equivalent to 404.2 billion VND at the current exchange rate) due to delayed response to the issue.
In 2015, the Japanese automaker also recalled 6.5 million vehicles due to a faulty power window switch that could catch fire. This issue caused debris to accumulate in the switch contacts, leading to significant overheating and/or short circuit, posing a safety risk to users.
From 2006 to 2014, US automaker General Motors had to recall 30 million vehicles due to an ignition switch defect that led to 124 deaths.
Estimates show that General Motors had to compensate and pay fines totaling $4.1 billion (about 101.06 trillion VND at the current exchange rate).
Takata
Not only new car manufacturers face recalls, but Takata – the world’s largest airbag manufacturer and supplier – also faced a defect that injured 400 people and resulted in 26 deaths.
Up until the end of 2022, a total of 67 million vehicles from major automakers have been recalled worldwide. Approximately 11 million vehicles still need to be recalled.
After the major scandal, Takata filed for bankruptcy and faced a fine of $1 billion (equivalent to 24.65 trillion VND).
TH (Tuoitrethudo)
