[aetherson]

In the US, at least, you must have "standing" to sue someone. That means that you have to demonstrate damages.

Those damages may be minor -- you don't have to have killed anyone -- but they have to exist.

If, in your example, GM only installed the worn out brakes on that one car, and the worn-out brakes never caused any damages, then no, GM cannot be sued for it.

Note that "I had to pay a mechanic to replace the brakes" is damages.

I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice, I may be wrong, etc.