A few years ago, a certain auto manufacturer made a certain auto that qualified as a passenger auto in its 2WD configuration and an SUV in its 4WD configuration. Aside from the above difference the only other difference was the presence of side-impact door beams in the 2WD version (required). Because the 4WD version met qualifications for an SUV it did not have to meet the more stringent safety requirements of the passenger auto. Rather than just include the side-impact doorbeams in the 4WD version the manufacturer chose to save a few bucks (I seem to recall that is was a net cost of less than $200).
Do you think the manufacturer should be sued for saving a few bucks on the 4WD version? The parents of the kids injured in the T-bone accident sure did.