Consumer Reports flagged the Suzuki Samurai for rollover risks in the late 1980s, causing U.S. sales to collapse and leading to a long legal fight.
While it can at times be overstated, there’s undeniable power in the press. Sources that have become trusted over the years can sway public opinion with a single publication, with the ramifications going far beyond the story at hand. Consumer Reports, an outlet dedicated to providing readers with independent product reviews, ratings, and more, is a source that folks have looked to for guidance, taking the publication’s assessments to heart. Look no further than a scandal from a few decades ago that ultimately had a major impact on an international car manufacturer and the real entity behind several Toyota car models, Suzuki.
Back in the 1990s, Suzuki Motor Corporation and Consumer Reports – then known as the Consumers Union — found themselves in a tense legal dispute over the latter’s presentation of the Suzuki Samurai. The publication claimed that the 1988 incarnation of the SUV was easily susceptible to tipping and rolling.
