[tyingq]

I always liked the name of the Chevy Nova. "No Va", meaning "doesn't go" in Spanish, and somewhat close to it in Italian, Portuguese, etc.

[sokoloff]

Pinto is slang for small penis in Brazil. Apparently, the car sold better once rebranded to Corcel (horse).

[anter]

Mitsubishi Pajero is another great one:

Mitsubishi marketed the SUV as the Montero in North America, Spain, and Latin America (except for Brazil and Jamaica) due to the term "pajero" being derogatory (meaning "wanker") in Spanish

[Sebguer]

This is apparently a myth, and the Nova sold just fine in Spanish speaking countries.

[tyingq]

I mean, it's not a myth that it sounds like "doesn't go". It was perhaps a myth that it affected sales to a strong degree...though I didn't say anything about sales.

[Zecc]

Hyundai Kona is named Kauai (after another Hawaiian island) in Portugal, since "cona" is slang for female genitalia.