Honesty Policy

This is a very hot topic all around the globe, and I’ve been aching to write about it for quite some time.  For many, the answer to the question of why domestic automakers are failing is simple: their cars suck.  However, if it were that simple, I would not be writing an entire blog post about it.  I believe the big three’s (GM, Chrysler, Ford) failures rest on many mistakes over a span of many years.  Let’s investigate.

If you Google “worst cars of all time,” about 32 million lists appear.  Upon taking a look at some of these lists at the top of the search results, about80% of the vehicles on the lists are thoroughbred American cars from the likes of Chevy (’70-’74 Vega) and Ford (’71-’80 Pinto).  Okay, so we’ve established the public’s opinion of the worst cars of the past, and most of them are American.  Big deal.  What matters is what they think now, and why the big three are so close to going belly up.

On Monday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that GM is planning to recall 1.5 million vehicles over fears that “oil that runs below the manifold’s heat shield could ignite and spread to plastic channels that hold spark plug wires ,” basically initing the car into a careening fireball of hell, frying the occupants inside to a wonderful “drive-American” crisp.  However, this recall pales in comparison to the all-time record.  Last year, Ford recalled 12 million vehicles over a cruise control switch malfunction.  12 years earlier, Ford recalled 8.6 million vehicles over faulty ignition systems - the #2 record.  As you look up the list to the tenth place recall amount, Ford and GM appear 5 more times.  The only two foreign automakers that made the list are Honda and Volkswagen, in 7th and 8th place, respectively, with 3.7 million vehicles recalled apiece.  Interesting.  Recalls kill an automakers’ reputation, because the company effectively admits that it put the lives of its customers in danger by selling them a vehicle with faulty equipment, and this has undeniably had that effect on Ford and GM.

The third and final reason that the Americans are losing the battle is appeal.  The appeal of the American car has been lacking for many years.  The designs, innovations, and technology that is integrated into these vehicles often are sub-par when compared to those of foreign automakers.  It is true that the big three are trying their damnedest to make strides in the industry of appeal, however, it just may be too little too late.