1973-1983 Chevrolet pickups6 of 10No formal recall was ordered for Chevrolet trucks with side-saddle fuel tanks, but that didn't stop the controversy from dragging on for years.In 1973, GM engineers designed a pickup with a 20-gallon fuel tank on either side of the pickup. Auto safety groups alleged that the placement made the trucks vulnerable to exploding in a "T-bone" accident, which exposed the tanks to direct impact with another car.The government called on GM to issue a voluntarily recall but GM refused, eventually settling with the DOT. In the settlement, GM pledged $51 million to U.S. safety programs. According to CAS, GM has paid out more than $500 million in settlements to burn victims because of the defect.<< Back to the 2010 Fall Car Guide table of contents. Related Articles:Buy or lease calculatorFuture electric carsNew or used car calculator'Green' auto loans emergeRelated Links:Auto loan ratesAuto insuranceNegotiating a car's priceBest used car pricesadvertisement
No formal recall was ordered for Chevrolet trucks with side-saddle fuel tanks, but that didn't stop the controversy from dragging on for years.
In 1973, GM engineers designed a pickup with a 20-gallon fuel tank on either side of the pickup. Auto safety groups alleged that the placement made the trucks vulnerable to exploding in a "T-bone" accident, which exposed the tanks to direct impact with another car.
The government called on GM to issue a voluntarily recall but GM refused, eventually settling with the DOT. In the settlement, GM pledged $51 million to U.S. safety programs. According to CAS, GM has paid out more than $500 million in settlements to burn victims because of the defect.
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