Chevrolet Corvair
In the late ’50s, Chevrolet presented the Corvair, a revolutionary compact car with a rear-mounted, air-cooled, flat-six engine. This was a big step for Chevrolet since the Corvair sat opposite other vehicles from the company and featured different concepts, technology, and design. However, for a couple of years, it looked like everything was okay with the Corvair, and sales were good. That was, until a book called “Unsafe at Any Speed” hit bookstores across the country and caused significant problems for GM (via Auto Week).
The book’s author Ralph Nader was a consumer advocate who came in possession of classified documents showing that the Corvair was the reason for many accidents, some with fatal outcomes. The engine in the back of the car caused Corvair to have problematic handling. Chevrolet knew that but wanted to avoid investing money in additional stabilizer bars and suspension modifications. Soon, the book gained publicity, and the public demanded the answers while more and more people reported crashes with the Corvair. Chevrolet was even involved in government hearings, admitting that its executives knew something about the matter, paying the settlement, and promising to invest money in safety research. Ultimately, Corvair sales were slashed and the model was discontinued in 1969.