Ford Explorer
The Explorer was the reason that the SUV and crossover segment became what it is today. There was something about the midsize SUV that became a smash hit with consumers. The Explorer was a great SUV for what it was, but there were also shortcomings, and these shortcomings almost put Ford into bankruptcy. There’s no denying the Explorer was a piece of automotive history and an important one at that but these early models are safety hazards at best (via Auto Safety).
The second generation of the Explorer was involved in one of the biggest and most costly lawsuits Ford ever faced. It was discovered in court that the roof was weakened in the design of the SUV. That weakened design meant the Explorer was much weaker in a rollover crash, so we wouldn’t touch this SUV at all.