Firm breaks cardinal rule By any measure, it was a stunning decision. The automaker may have had little choice. American Motors Corp. Meyers admits it is not a strategy without pitfalls. While I don't think product sales will be affected at all for the non-SUV market, nobody's gonna not buy a Jaguar because of this. I do think the SUV part of Ford's business has been, and will continue to be, reduced for a period of time.
Analysts say the recall makes sense for an automaker trying to position itself as consumer-driven.
Ford may have taken a lesson from them, said automotive consultant Russell Hensley of Andersen, formerly Arthur Andersen. Controversy to linger Regardless of Ford's motivation, its recall does not end the tire controversy. Although Nasser said the tires in the latest recall are substantially less likely to fail than those recalled last summer, they have still been linked to nine deaths and 22 injuries. Defect investigations typically take about a year, and the Firestone probe is expected to be completed late this summer. But there is little chance of that happening.