The problem of ‘unintended acceleration’ is indeed a thorny one and the media is like a dog with a bone. It is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between a genuine issue and something that is contrived by an over-zealous journalist/publisher/broadcaster or simply an unfortunate incident blown up out of all proportion. 

Anyway, we have come across a little ancient history that is interesting – below link. Poor old Audi. The small matter of being innocent of all charges (unless you count having the accelerator and brake pedals ‘too close’ – not an issue anywhere else) and being the victim of actively misleading media coverage couldn’t rescue diving sales on the 5000.  

Sudden Acceleration: The Early Years