With the launch of Chevy's small-block V8 in 1955, General Motors introduced an engine family that would make its way into millions of vehicles across the world. It was especially known as a mainstay of the muscle cars, powering iconic examples of the Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette, El Camino, and more. But certain engines would also make some pretty big headaches for the general, leading to a class-action lawsuit and millions of dollars in fines.

Yes, I'm talking about GM's 5.3-liter Vortec V8, an evolution of those classic Chevrolet mills that added a then-new "vortex technology" in the mid-1990s. The idea was to better mix air and fuel in the cylinder heads; the result was a smooth and powerful engine that went a long way toward civilizing old-school trucks and SUVs to appeal to more drivers. It was after GM went on to further refine the motor for its all-new 2006 trucks and SUVs -- such as the Chevrolet Silverado/Tahoe and GMC Sierra/Yukon -- that the trouble started.