Audi 5000
Today, Audi is one of the leading luxury brands in the American market. But in the late ’80s, the company was almost gone from US shores due to the news of unintended acceleration and numerous crashes as a reason for that. In 1986, a popular CBS TV show, “60 Minutes,” ran a feature about Audi’s unintended acceleration on the popular 5000 model (via TAC).
After the show was aired, the car community buzzed and Audi’s reputation was severely damaged. Audi responded by publishing numerous tests and videos showing that the only possible way something like this could happen is if the driver’s foot slips from the brake to the accelerator pedal. Still, it didn’t help and sales hit rock bottom. It took the company two decades to recover.