5. 1973 General Motors (3.7 million vehicles)
We’ve all probably heard a rock or some sort of solid hard object hit the underneath of our car, and of course we don’t think too much of it. However, in 1973, about 3.7 million GM car owners (those who drove Centurions, Electras, Kingswoods, Belairs, Bonnevilles, as well as many other cars) had to worry a great deal about the overall protection of their engine and car. The shields that are installed underneath many engines are designed to keep rocks and other solid pieces of rubble from getting into the engine itself. The shield wasn’t doing its job, and a recall was issued. If a rock were to get into the engine, it would completely disable it, and that could be pretty costly. (The taxi in the clip above is a 1973 Bel Air according to IMCDb.org.)
4. 1972 Ford Motor Company (4.1 million vehicles)
Nowadays, wearing your seatbelt while driving is a law in most states, and with campaigns such as “Click it or Ticket,” those who used to dread wearing their seatbelt probably do so now. In 1972, Ford realized that the harnesses used for seatbelts in many of their vehicles, including Mercurys, Lincolns, Rancheros, were less than perfect protection. Instead, the seatbelt harness would easily fray and come loose from the metal that was used to attach it to the frame. This was a problem in 4.1 million Ford vehicles.
3. 1981 General Motors (5.8 million vehicles)
If you’re a driver, you know the extreme importance of your steering wheel, especially when it comes time to make that final turn to get home, or even just to ensure you are staying in your lane when on the highway. However, in 1981, those who owned an El Camino, Malibu, Monte Carlo, Century, Regal, Pontiac Grand Prix, and a few other cars, risked losing control of their steering wheel. According to GM, with many of these cars, there was a chance that the suspension bolts could come loose. If they came loose at just the wrong time, there would be no way for the driver to steer. The fix was simple and all of the affected cars just needed an easy and quick suspension bolt replacement.
2. 1971 General Motors (6.7 million vehicles)
Some drivers are what we call “lead-foots” or “speed demons,” while others seem to prefer to stay under the speed limit. In any case, most of us speed because well…we can, but imagine your car suddenly speeding without your say in the matter. This is exactly what happened in 1971 to 6.7 million General Motors vehicles. Somehow, an engine mount within the car separated due to a deterioration of the rubber placed between them, which then lifted and pushed down on the throttle. This then caused the vehicles to hit some really high speeds. At the time several GM automobiles, mainly Chevrolets, were affected: the Camaro, Chevy II, Impala, Nova, Belair, and many others. All of the cars were manufactured from 1965-1969 and in the end those that were affected had to pay around $30 for a quick fix.
1. 1996 Ford Motor Company (8.6 million vehicles)
All of us get in our cars in the morning, get to our location, put the car in park, and then we’re off to work or some other place. However, in 1996, 875 weren’t able to experience something so easy and simple. Instead, when their cars were put into park, a short while after the car would catch fire. Due to a faulty ignition, Ford Motor Co. had to recall 8.6 million vehicles out of a known 10 million vehicles that had the same commonly used ignition. The most commonly affected vehicles were 1988-93 Tempos, Thunderbirds, Cougars, Escorts, Mustangs, Lincoln Town Cars, Broncos, F-series trucks and Crown Victorias. Sadly, many of the cars that caught fire were parked in garages, and therefore the fire not only ruined the car, but sometimes the entire house itself. After the incidents became widespread, groups protesting Ford formed to request an immediate resolution, one of the most notable being “Burned up by Ford.”
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