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It seems that automotive recalls are becoming more and more commonplace these days. On the one hand, a notice from your auto’s manufacturer requesting you to bring it to the nearest dealership for fixing can be a bit of a pain if you lead a busy lifestyle. On the other hand though, such a notice can literally be a lifesaver. The amounts of recalls we see today are a good thing in general, as they demonstrate the quality of safety controls used by automakers and governments to protect drivers. The question is though, how did we get to this point? Let’s find out by reviewing the biggest auto recalls in modern times by decade.
1970s
The 1970s was the first decade when automotive recalls became commonplace and more widely known than in the past due to modern technologies like TV and radio. Out of the ten recalls described in this article, four took place throughout the 1970s. The largest recall of the decade involved roughly 6.7 million General Motors vehicles that included the famous Camaro and Nova models, amongst others. The problem: engine mounts (used to secure the engine to the frame of the car) were failing and when they did, they would fall back onto the throttle control and literally give drivers one heck of a ride.
The next largest recall of the 1970s involved 4.1 million Ford models, including the Ranchero, the Lincoln and the Mercury, with defective seatbelt shoulder harnesses. The harnesses were fraying due to rubbing against the metal frame that held the seatbelt in place. Of course, there weren’t any mandatory seatbelt laws in force in Canada or the United States then, but Ford played it safe and initiated the recall anyway. Better safe than sorry.
The final two major recalls of the 1970s took first took place in 1973 when 3.7 million vehicles—18 different GM models— were found to be susceptible to stones interfering with the drivers ability to steer their cars. GM remedied the issue by installing engine shields to protect the steering assembly. Finally, in 1972, Volkswagen finally accepted the fact that 3.7 million of their autos, including the Beatle, made between 1949 and 1969 were throwing off their windshield wipers under fierce precipitation events. As we all know, it is necessary to be able to see in a rain or snowstorm.
1980s
Oddly enough, there were only two major recalls in the 1980s. The first such recall occurred in 1981 when 5.8 million General Motors customers who were owners of the Monte Carlo, the Grand Prix and the El Camino amongst other models lost the ability to steer their autos. The issue was that suspension bolts managed to wiggle their way loose and disrupt the steering mechanism. The other recall in 1987 affected 3.6 million Ford customers who drove essentially almost every model that the auto manufacturer made. Ford found out that bad fuel line connectors were causing engine compartment fires. As we know, fire and autos do not mix.
1990s
The second largest automotive recall of all time occurred in 1996 when 11 different Ford models, covering 8.6 million total vehicles, were recalled. The problem was again fire related, as customers were finding out that faulty ignition systems were causing fires inside of their cars. In 1995, a foreign automaker joined the list. Honda had to recall 3.7 million vehicles, including the popular Civic and Accord models, due to faulty seatbelt releases that were either failing to hold the metal part of the seatbelt securely in place or not allowing the seatbelt to be released.
2000s
Luckily, we only had two major recalls in the first decade of the 21st century, but it also included the largest automotive recall in history. The first recall occurred in 2004 when GM discovered that 3.6 million Silverados, Sierras, Escalades and Avalanches were found to have defective tailgate cables that were corroding at a fast rate. Thankfully, only 134 individuals were slightly injured by the defective tailgate cables.
The largest recall ever occurred in 2008 when Ford recalled 12 million vehicles. As you may have heard when the story was well publicized, various 1993 to 2004 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury autos were affected by the smallest of defective parts: cruise control switches. These cruise control switches were found to catch fire under a variety of circumstances, which in turn forced Ford to ante up and fix the issue for free. Oddly enough though, not many owners with the defective switches took their vehicles in and as of September 2008, five million vehicles still needed the fix.
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