In contrast to Firestone's voluntary recall, for example, the Transportation Department in 1986 asked Volkswagen of America to recall as many as 30,000 Audi 5000S cars built since 1978 amid allegations of sudden acceleration. Pinpointing the Cause Gauging consumer safety can often depend on the product involved. In the Tylenol case, for example, the cause of the hazard was clear and, at the same time, consumers could turn to alternative painkillers during the recall. The issues are trickier with tires, partly because pinpointing the cause of a product defect is more complicated, experts say. Rice is former chief counsel to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which investigates car safety defects.
Liability is also a serious consideration for companies in a recall situation.
And the cost of the actual recall is just the beginning. Not surprisingly, Ford is trying as much as possible to separate itself from Firestone. During a recent press conference, Ford officials said the design of the company's sport utility vehicles had nothing to do with the accidents. Instead, officials placed the blame solely on Firestone's recalled Wilderness tires. But Pittle wonders if worried consumers will take the time to separate Ford and Firestone.