The 10 biggest scandals in the auto industry

German brands' guinea pigs: From 2014 to 2018

Horrible! BMW, Daimler (Mercedes), and Volkswagen funded EUGT (European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector) experiments on the harmful effects of exhaust fumes. These tests exposed monkeys to the exhaust fumes of a VW Beetle Diesel in the USA. Worse, 25 human volunteers in Germany were exposed to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)—you read that right! The manufacturers denied any knowledge of the procedures at the time of funding. They have even publicly condemned them.

Dieselgate with Volkswagen and others: from 2015 to today

The rules of the game were simple: optimize cars to pass homologation tests with the best possible results. But Volkswagen went a step further. Software installed in 11 million diesel cars detected test sequences and adapted their operation to reduce NOx emissions. Other manufacturers also played with fire. The result: fines, the end of the diesel era, and the arrival of WLTP standards.

Takata Airbags: From 2008 to today

Japanese automotive supplier Takata launched airbags that could explode violently due to a chemical propellant called ammonium nitrate, which became unstable over time. Their deployment could project metal fragments into the passenger compartment, seriously injuring or fatally injuring vehicle occupants. There have already been more than 30 certified deaths worldwide, including yet another in France in June 2025. The entire industry has been affected, with massive recall campaigns still ongoing. Takata went bankrupt in 2017.

Stellantis' PureTech Engine: From 2013 to today

The 1.2-liter PureTech 3-cylinder gasoline engine (engine of the year 2016) operated with a timing belt in an oil bath. Great for driving pleasure. Unfortunately, the oil ended up prematurely disintegrating the belt. The result: engine failure, excessive fuel consumption, a warning light on the dashboard. And frustrated customers with a car that frequently broke down and lost its resale value. In addition, Stellantis bury its head in the sand with the cost of support before reacting from 2024. Class action lawsuits are still pending.

General Motors' deadly ignition switch: 2000s

124 officially recognized deaths—that's the terrible toll caused by an ignition defect in certain General Motors vehicles. The problem could cut off the engine while driving. This cutoff deactivated the airbags and power brakes. Since turning off the engine abruptly can result in an accident, many victims experienced a vehicle that was completely out of control. More than 2.6 million vehicles were recalled when GM finally acknowledged the problem after trying to hide it.

Toyota's uncontrolled accelerations: From 2009 to 2011

Several Toyota models were suspected of accelerating suddenly and uncontrollably. The fault lay in faulty pedals and/or loose floor mats due to a design flaw. Several accidents were reported, some of them fatal. Toyota was forced to recall 8 million vehicles. To avoid criminal prosecution in the United States, the manufacturer paid $1.2 billion in compensation.

Mitsubishi's fake fuel consumption data: discovered in 2016

If you can't get the numbers you want: make them up. To present flattering data, Mitsubishi falsified fuel consumption test results for over 25 years on certain vehicles sold in Japan. A national scandal that led to a crisis of confidence and the acquisition of Mitsubishi by Nissan, a partner in some models. It was Nissan, in fact, who discovered the big bad wolf...

The Ford Pinto's explosive fuel tank: 1970s

Gasoline is particularly explosive. Yet, the Ford Pinto was designed with a fuel tank that was vulnerable to rear-end collisions. The manufacturer knew this, but internal documents showed that its executives had estimated that it would be cheaper to pay compensation than to correct the defect. A dubious profit-first ethic that killed dozens of people.

Firestone tires on Fords: in 2000

At least 88 people died in the United States after a Firestone Wilderness AT tire on their Ford Explorer blew out. This was due to a flaw design, low tire pressure, and the car's center of gravity. The manufacturer and the automaker played a sordid game of ping-pong. This didn't stop Ford from being forced to replace 6.5 million tires on the affected model.

Drug and financial scandal at De Lorean: Early 1980s

The De Lorean DMC-12 is Marty McFly's car in "Back to the Future." However, this model, which became famous posthumously, was at the center of a financial scandal. Its boss, John Z. DeLorean, was unable to manage the astronomical costs of his project and the poor production quality of his brand-new factory in Northern Ireland. He was even arrested for drug trafficking and eventually acquitted. But he remained ruined until his death in 2005!