Consumers Union v. Suzuki

Eight years ago Consumer Reports warned that little Suzuki Samurai SUVs were easy to tip during sharp turns. Suzuki went through the roof and called its lawyers.

For eight years of lawsuits and appeals, the various news media kept showing those images of the little Suzuki SUV tipped up on two wheels. That affected public perception of the safety - or lack of safety - of the entire line of Suzuki vehicles, and sales weren't what they might have been.

Suzuki finally caved last week and called off its lawyers. Consumers Union did not retract anything, and did not pay a penny to settle. If fact, in its entire 68 year history of evaluating products, Consumer Reports has never paid money to settle a lawsuit, and has not issued even one retraction.

Suzuki just wanted to finally finally stop the negative publicity.

I trust Consumers Union. CU always pays cash for the products it rates. It will not accept freebies or loans of consumer products. It is one of the last institutions in which I have virtually-complete faith and trust.

I may not agree with every product assessment, but I never question its honesty.

Not many companies or institutions have a reputation that good.

Brad Messer, commentary, KTSA.