They will often refuse to do a recall even if personal safety is at risk. The real quantifier is how much financial damage the auto company will endure in the event they do or do not do a recall
> They will often refuse to do a recall even if personal safety is at risk.
Ford Pinto, anyone...
Another one that many people don't know about is a problem with old 2-door Tahoes; a bracket on the driver's side seat likes to fail upon quick acceleration - such as when getting on the freeway, for instance.
One minute you're upright, pushing the pedal to get up to speed, the next - whoops! - flat on your back! If you're lucky, you live to tell the tale...
AFAIK, GM never issued a recall about that one (it caused me to pass on a really nice lifted 4wd Tahoe a few years back)...
Eh, sometimes they do for the sake of brand preservation. If personal safety is at risk they will do a recall, either voluntary or mandated by the NHTSA.