Indeed. It has been my experience that the problems usually arise when MANAGEMENT overides Engineering - usually over "cost" issues. In general, Engineers have a professional responsibility to do a good job of design. Unfortuantely when Marketing and Management stick their fingers in the pie, they often cut corners that should not be cut. If they cut deep enough, you wind up with a recall. If they dig TOO deep, then you wind up with a class action law-suit.
Saw it happen here a few years back. A Marine engineer was asked to design a "fast ferry", which he did. After he completed the design, a number of modifications were done as the ferries were being built. The modifications were strictly pollitically motived by the local government. Once the ferries went into service, they had no end of problems. There was a huge public outcry. The government sued the marine engineer.
Lucky for him that he documents he work fully. When it got into court, he proved that the design had been modified without his consultation or permission. He also provided the analysis as to why the problems were occurring, and what SHOULD have been done had he been consulted. Unfortunately, the ships were already built, and were therefore unuseable.
The case was thrown out, and the government went running with their tail between their legs. It was so bad, they were thrown out of office at the next election. It cost the taxpayers BILLIONS because these idiots meddled in a process they knew NOTHING about. They did more than cut corners. The resulting ferries were totally unsuitable, and wound up being sold for little more than the value of the scrap aluminim. They still sit by the shore today - shrink-wrapped and collecting dust.
If Management would listen to Engineering a little more often, then they might spend a little more now, but in the long run they would save a LOT of money. But Management does not see it this way. After all, THEY when to management school to get their MBAsshole degrees! Why should they listen to a lowly Engineer?