Unheard of? You best do some Googling. This has been the way since at least the 60's.
Here are a few of the best ones from over the years..... 1978 Ford Pinto, 69-71 GM engine mounts, 78-80 Ford F-series and so on.
It is cheaper for these companies to pay out a few court cases than pay out for recalls. They WILL ALWAYS lay low until they are forced to do otherwise.