Bring 'em back: Top
10 auto recalls
By Jennie
L. Phipps • Bankrate.com
Automakers set a record
last year for recalls. Notices went out 598 times and 30.6 million
vehicles came from owner driveways to dealership shops for critical
repairs. This was 6 million more cars than were recalled in 2000,
when the Ford Explorer-Firestone tire fiasco helped drive recalls
to a previous high.
But automotive bring-backs are nothing new. Some of
the worst problems and subsequent manufacturer-mandated repairs
happened more than 30 years ago. Compared to some of these historic
recalls, 2004's largest single recall -- 3.6 million GM vehicles
with defective tailgate cables -- seems downright minuscule.
Here are the top 10 recalls to date. Because of the
way cars are produced nowadays, a manufacturer recall means several
different makes will be involved in each recall:
1. Faulty ignitions:
Ford Motor Co. offered to replace 8.6 million faulty ignitions in
1996 after more than 875 consumers complained about the device causing
a small fire. Vehicles affected include 1988-93 Escorts, Mustangs,
Tempos, Topazes, Thunderbirds, Cougars, Crown Victorias, Grand Marquis,
Lincoln Town Cars, Aerostars, Broncos and F-series trucks.
2. Engine mounts: General
Motors recalled 6.7 million cars and trucks in 1971 because of
an engine mount that sometimes separated, allowing the engine
to lift and push down on the throttle, causing the vehicle to
take off like a rocket. Models affected were Belair, Brookwood,
Camaro, Caprice, Chevrolet, Chevy II, G Series, Impala, Kingswood,
Nova, P Series, C Series and Townsmen.
3. Suspension bolts:
GM offered to replace the bolts on the suspension of 5.8 million
cars in 1981. If the bolts wiggled loose at the wrong time, the
driver would lose the ability to steer the car. Models affected
were Buick Century and Regal, Chevrolet El Camino, Malibu, Monte
Carlo, GMC Caballero, Oldsmobile Cutlass, Pontiac Grand Prix and
Lemans.
4. Shoulder harnesses: The
shoulder harnesses for seat belts on 1970 and 1971 Ford vehicles,
including Rancheros, Lincolns, Mercurys and Fords (there was a
model then called a Ford, a Ford Ford, so to speak), tended to
fray and come loose from the metal that attached them to the frame.
In 1972, Ford asked to replace them in 4.1 million cars and trucks.
5. Engine shields: In
1973, GM asked to install 3.7 million shields beneath the engines
of many of its models to prevent stones from getting into the
steering mechanism and disabling it. Affected models included
Buick Centurion, Electra, Estate Wagon, LeSabre, and Riviera;
Chevrolet Belair, Biscayne, Brookwood, Caprice, Impala, Kingswood,
Kingswood Estate, Townsmen, Oldsmobile 88 and 98, and Pontiac
Bonneville, Grand Ville and Catalina
6. Safety belt releases:
The red release buttons that said "Push Here"
on the safety belts of Hondas and Acuras cracked and disintegrated
causing the belt to fail or trap passengers in their seats, an
even more serious problem in the event of an accident. In 1995,
American Honda Motor Co. recalled 3.7 million Civics, Preludes
and Accords; also coming back were Acura Legends, Integras and
NSX models.
7. Wiper arms: In
1972, Volkswagen of America offered to replace the windshield
wiper arms on 3.7 million aging VW Bugs built between 1949 and
1969 because they worked loose and allowed the windshield wipers
to go careening off into space.
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-- Posted: Feb. 15, 2005
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