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Suzuki Samurai
The Samurai sold well in the states from 1985 to 1989. But then a harsh Consumer Reports article brutally interrupted its career. It stated that the Samurai was a small death trap on wheels. The article explained that this little SUV was prone to roll-overs that had been the cause of many accidents, including some with fatal outcomes.
Suzuki sued Consumer Reports claiming that this wasn’t true, and the case dragged on for 10 years. Eventually, they settled out of court. Although some independent reporters proved the little Samurai was a bit unstable, it was not as catastrophically as Consumer Reports claimed.
Unfortunately, the damage was done and they withdrew the Samurai from the U.S. market, even though they continued to sell it in the rest of the world. Today, you can find the Samurai here and there, and the controversy about its stability could add value at some point.