5 Cars That Were Banned For Being Too Dangerous

Audi 5000 — The Sudden Acceleration Panic

In the late 1980s, reports of “unintended acceleration” put Audi in the congressional hot seat. Drivers claimed their Audi 5000s would surge forward on their own, causing crashes. Later studies blamed pedal misapplication more than engineering flaws, but the reputation hit was catastrophic. The government stepped in, and the phrase “shift lock”—a safety feature that prevents a car from being shifted out of park without pressing the brake—became a standard part of automotive design. Audi’s sales in America collapsed, and it took the brand years to recover.