14. Firestone’s Exploding Tires
Despite the tragic scandal with Ford, the Firestone Company was under public scrutiny again in early 2000s when it recalled 6.5 million tires used by all manufacturers. The tires were known to explode for no reason, causing crashes, injuries and deaths.
The recall was terribly expensive and took over a year to complete. The U.S. Safety Commission estimated that Firestone’s tires caused over 200 deaths, and over 4,000 crashes and complaints.
These are the biggest scandals and cover-ups in the automotive industry. Some were accidental, some were intentional, and some weren’t even real, but they weigh heavily on the minds of car consumers everywhere. These car scandals show how important it is for car buyers to do their homework before heading to the dealership.