Spanish Moss: An Itchy Start to the History of Automotive Recalls

When we think about vehicle recalls today, we imagine software glitches, safety concerns, or mechanical failures. But would you believe the very first automotive recall in history was due to... Spanish moss?

Let’s rewind to 1915, when the legendary Henry Ford was churning out the wildly popular Model T — the car that revolutionized American transportation and put the world on wheels. As part of a push to cut costs and speed up production, Ford’s team decided to stuff the seat cushions with the garnish of the South: Spanish moss. Cheap, soft, natural, and abundant, it quite literally grows on trees. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, as it turns out, Spanish moss is also home to a tiny, biting insect known as the “redbug," or chiggers – a fact that Henry Ford and his northern counterparts were unaware of, as the story goes. And guess what happened when all that moss was packed into Model T seat cushions without proper treatment? Yep –– bugs started crawling out of the seats and biting drivers and passengers right through their Sunday best.

Not exactly the kind of thrill anyone signed up for.

Soon enough, itchy, irate Model T owners started complaining... Loudly. Henry Ford, who was protective of his brand and committed to customer satisfaction, issued what became the first known automotive recall in history. The company had to replace or re-stuff the buggy seats with treated materials that wouldn't turn a peaceful drive into an unpleasant surprise.

So, the next time your check engine light comes on or you get a recall notice in the mail, just remember: at least your seat isn’t biting you. It’s a weird, wild footnote in automotive history –– and a reminder that even the pioneers had to learn a few lessons the hard (and itchy) way.