by Chris Martin

Have you ever purchased a vehicle, but soon found out that it wasn't all that it was cracked up to be? It seems that almost everyone has heard a sad "lemon" story about a car or truck that just couldn't stay out of the shop.

So for everyone who has ever been frustrated by a vehicle that kept screwing up, breaking down, or falling apart (which, of course, auto insurance doesn’t pay for), we offer a reminder that your situation could be much, much worse. Check out the top six lemons in U.S. history. We hope that this list will make you feel a tiny bit better.

1. 1980 Chevy Citation

“Don’t fall apart on me - please!”

This vehicle was the most problematic of the GM "X-Cars," released in the early eighties. In fact, this model-year Citation was recalled an astonishing nine times by the NHTSA for everything from defective fuel lines to steering gear and front suspension coil springs that slipped out of position.

2. 1965-69 GM cars with V-8 engines

“Have you seen my engine?”

Some 6.7 million of these vehicles were recalled because the engine mounts would give way and cause the engine to come free - which would open the throttle and even disable braking assistance. You might see the obvious problems this could cause; but GM's CEO inexplicably declared that faulty engine mounts were no more worrisome than flat tires.

3. 1971-76 Ford Pinto

“No explosions here!”

You might remember the famous defect in the placement of these Pintos' fuel tanks, which made them vulnerable to being pierced by differential bolts in rear-end collisions, thus causing fiery explosions. What you may not know is that fixing the problem would have only cost about $11 per car. You may also not know that Ford knew about the problem but chose not to address it.

4. 2006 Dodge Ram

Like a rock!

Pickup trucks are supposed to be tough, right? Well, this Ram had so many chinks in its armor that the government had to recall it seven different times. Issues included defects in the front suspension and rearview mirrors, anti-lock brake units that didn't work properly, and 4-wheel drive transfer cases that sometimes slipped into neutral on their own.

5. 1970-80 Ford vehicles

Ford's cars and trucks that were built in the 70s had an even more finicky transmission problem. It seems that vehicles which appeared to be in "park" could accidentally slip into "reverse." Had all of these 21 million vehicles been recalled (as they probably should have been), it would have been the largest recall in U.S. history.

6. 1976 Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare

These twin models signified everything that was wrong with Chrysler Corporation before it almost went bankrupt in 1979. Though the two cars were designed to be simple, they managed to rack up an astounding eight recalls for everything from faulty seatbelt retractors and a propensity for rusting parts to substandard fuel and emission control systems.

 

 

 

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Alternative fuel vehicles have been around for quite a long time: The first electric vehicle was built way back in 1839, and steam-powered cars had been invented well before then. But, interesting, consumers were thoroughly unimpressed with the first production models of alternative fuel cars that were unveiled in the 20th century.

Strangely enough, these didn't catch on in America.

However, that attitude has changed dramatically - and the results of a recent survey by Deloitte LLP reflect that shift in perception.

The firm's annual survey of Millennial (aka "Gen Y") auto consumers reveals that a solid majority prefer a vehicle with electric fuel capability over a traditional gas-powered vehicle. In fact, 57% of the poll's respondents would purchase a vehicle with hybrid technology before they would buy one which runs solely on gasoline.

The Deloitte survey polled 1,500 American, 250 Chinese, and 300 Western European Millennials in September and October of 2011. Millennials are identified as people who are between the ages of 19 and 31. It is believed that one out of every four new vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2012 will be bought by a Millennial - and that percentage rises to 40% over the next decade. So it's easy to see why automakers and car insurance companies want to know what these almost 80 million Americans are thinking.

"Indie music… coffee shops… sex… Twitter… slacking… sex… being hip… sex…"

But these young adults aren't dissatisfied enough with gas-combustion engines to avoid them completely. Perhaps the most surprising finding in the survey is that only 2% of respondents would opt for an "electric-only" vehicle. That indicates a willingness to reduce -- but not eliminate -- the periodic trips to the gas pumps. In addition, Millennials favor a non-pug-in hybrid over a plug-in counterpart by a more than 2 to 1 margin.

Another interesting poll result is the underlying reason why Millennials prefer hybrid cars over gas-powered ones: money. A whopping 89% of those surveyed would want a vehicle with excellent gas mileage, which would reduce their fuel costs. So while the trendy appeal of owning a "green" car might be a consideration, Millennials are turning to hybrids primarily because of the impact on their wallets.

So what can we glean from this survey? First and foremost, it's readily apparent that the alternative fuel vehicle market has fully matured. A major slice of the car-buying public is seriously considering a hybrid vehicle - meaning that today's alternative fuel offerings have as many safety features, style points, and bells and whistles as its competitors do.

You go, Dad.

But perhaps more importantly, the growth in the hybrid vehicle industry is now morphing from a government-funded effort (through tax breaks and incentives) into a consumer-driven phenomenon. And when they go to dealer lots these days, young adults are discovering that what's available to them is a far cry from their fathers' alternative fuel vehicles.

If you need car insurance, check out SafeAuto.com.

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It sounds like something out of a blockbuster film: an evil hacker breaks into a complicated system that controls all of the computerized features in passenger vehicles. He then disables their ignition systems so they cannot start. Or he causes all of the engine sensors to malfunction so that the vehicles overheat and stall out on the roads. Or maybe he assumes control of their power steering and causes these vehicles to crash into each other all over the country.

Of course, this could never happen… right?

Well, what about these situations?

• A hacker remotely uploads video files from dashboard camera systems in police cars.
• A hacker sends out a signal which causes vehicles' tire pressure detection systems to erroneously display warning lights on drivers' dashboards.
• A hacker figures out how to spy on all phone calls that are made inside cars.
• A hacker causes vehicles to wirelessly transmit their make, model, VIN numbers, and current location to a computer operated by the head of a car theft syndicate.
• A terrorist simultaneously disables the brakes on numerous cars that are traveling on the country's roads.
• A scofflaw accesses a dealer's computer system and shuts off engines and blares horns on dozens of vehicles.

According to computer experts, these scenarios could become reality… and one of them has already happened.

How is this possible? With all of the "smart" automotive technology that can regulate everything from cabin temperature to airbags, today's newer vehicles are becoming increasingly more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Some of these vehicle computer systems could potentially be compromised using drivers' Bluetooth or WiFi systems, while others are susceptible to hackers through a server owned by a dealer or manufacturer.

Cybersecurity experts have already found ways to gain access to much of this computerized auto technology and manipulate certain functions of the vehicles. For example, a security tester hired by a city was able to access police vehicles' dashcam systems and steal or delete months of stored video files. Researchers at the University of South Carolina were able to cause one vehicle to send a bogus signal to another that lit up the "low tire pressure" indicator on the target car; this prompted fears of criminals engaging in this practice and then following people who pulled over in the hopes of robbing them.

Furthermore, an August study by the Center for Automotive Systems Security found several more vulnerabilities. Researchers were able to wirelessly command groups of vehicles to transmit GPS coordinates and vehicle identifying information; this could allow criminals to not only determine where the most valuable auto theft targets are, but also send out wireless commands to unlock their doors, disable their alarms, and start their engines. In addition, these experts were successful in intercepting wireless signals so they could monitor the cell phone calls of the vehicles' occupants. But perhaps the most disturbing accomplishment was the capability to instantly render braking systems inoperative by sending the appropriate wireless command to the targeted vehicles.

And yes, there has been at least one instance where this type of approach has been used to create mischief. A disgruntled former employee at a Texas used car dealership gained access to the company's system that shut off the engines of owners who did not make their car payments. The individual then disabled the engines and activated the car horns on more than 100 vehicles that had been sold by the dealer.

To their credit, new car manufacturers are taking these issues seriously and are actively working to bolster security on the computer systems in their vehicles (although the same can't be said for some aftermarket auto parts sellers). However, security experts warn that the more technologically-advanced that new vehicles become, the greater their exposure is to the risk of hacking and cybertheft. So while no one likes to consider the idea of widespread mayhem or destruction caused by a single individual breaking into cars' computer systems, such circumstances are not completely beyond the realm of possibility.

If you need car insurance, check out SafeAuto.com.

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