AP: Not just Volkswagen: A list of past auto industry scandals

[Omaha Steve]

FILE - In this Sept. 1, 1978 file photo, Patty Ramge poses with her 1975 Ford Pinto that bears a sign warning fellow motorists to keep their distance, in Detroit. Ramge posted the warning after weeks of trying to convince Ford Motor Co., and its dealers to modify the Pinto's fuel tank so it would not pose a fire hazard in a rear-end crash. At least 27 people died during the 1970s due to the faulty position of fuel tanks in the Ford Pinto. (AP Photo/JCH, File)


http://bigstory.ap.org/article/9f70d06a123c4db382d000fe435d7ea8/not-just-volkswagen-list-past-auto-industry-scandals

By The Associated Press
Sep. 22, 2015 4:40 PM EDT

With Volkswagen's admission that 11 million of its diesel vehicles worldwide contain software that can rig emissions tests, the German automaker joins a list of auto industry scandals that spans several decades. Among them, Ford Pintos that burst into flames, Toyota vehicles that take off unintentionally and air bags that explode, showering a car's interior with shrapnel.

FORD PINTO

At least 27 people died during the 1970s due to the faulty position of fuel tanks in the Ford Pinto. In some cases, the fuel tank burst into flames following a rear-end collision. Ford recalled more than 1.5 million Pintos in 1978.

FIRESTONE TIRES

About 6.5 million Firestone tires were recalled in 2000 because the tires could shred, blow out or fail. Most of the tires were used in Ford SUVs and light pickup trucks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in 2001 that it received 271 reports of deaths and 800 injuries related to the faulty tires.

TOYOTA

FULL story at link. There is a breaking story on BMW getting added to the list today.

[KamaAina]

1. The Audi 5000S' faulty parking brake

The damn things would just start rolling for no apparent reason! Some garages banned them.

[Nitram]

2. The difference is that VW set out to commit fraud from the ground up.

Other cases involved mechanical deficiencies that were not intended, but were covered up once they were discovered.

[Octafish]

3. If it's good enough for Wall Street, fraud's good enough for VW.

The new top guy at VW has already blamed it on low-level engineers and technicians.

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/09/26/volkswagen-blames-emissions-cheating-scandal-low-level-technicians