Marcas con mayores crisis de reputación

Explore the most notorious cases of companies that have faced severe public image problems and how they managed (or failed to manage) their challenges. This list analyzes the consequences of scandals, product failures, or poor strategic decisions that impacted consumer trust. Discover the lessons that can be learned from these situations to better understand crisis management and corporate communication. It is an essential resource for marketing professionals, public relations specialists, and business students.

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  1. 1

    Hero España Product Contamination (2025)

    447 Global Votes

    The Hero España product contamination incident in 2025 created a significant reputation crisis for the brand. The recall of products from the market due to potential public health risks directly impacted consumer trust in the safety and quality of its food items. This event highlights the vulnerability of food companies to failures in quality control and the rapid spread of negative news in the digital age.

  2. 2

    Volkswagen Emissions Scandal (Dieselgate)

    0 Global Votes

    The Volkswagen emissions scandal of 2015 involved the intentional manipulation of emissions tests in millions of diesel vehicles, leading to multi-billion dollar fines and massive recalls. This deliberate deception of regulators and consumers caused massive and lasting reputational damage to one of the world's largest automotive brands.

  3. 3

    Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Explosions (2016)

    0 Global Votes

    This event marked one of the biggest reputation crises in tech history, forcing Samsung to recall millions of units of its flagship phone. The series of explosions and the subsequent global recall of the Galaxy Note 7 generated massive negative media coverage and a lasting impact on consumer trust in the brand.

  4. 4

    Pepsi Kendall Jenner Commercial (2017)

    0 Global Votes

    This commercial sparked a massive reputational crisis for Pepsi due to its perceived trivialization of social justice movements. The campaign was widely criticized for being tone-deaf and appropriating serious issues for commercial gain, leading to its swift withdrawal and significant damage to the brand's image.

  5. 5

    United Airlines Passenger Removal (2017)

    0 Global Votes

    This incident became a case study on how poor crisis management can severely damage a brand's reputation. The viral spread of the video showing a passenger's forceful removal generated global outrage and unprecedented scrutiny of the airline's policies and customer service.

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  7. 6

    Ryanair Racist Incident (2018)

    0 Global Votes

    This incident became a case study in poor reputation crisis management, as Ryanair's initial response was widely criticized for its lack of empathy and decisive action. The relocation of the victim instead of the aggressor amplified public outrage and led to significant scrutiny of the airline's policies.

  8. 7

    Adidas-Yalálag Cultural Appropriation

    0 Global Votes

    This incident created a significant reputational crisis for Adidas in 2025, with accusations of cultural appropriation from the Mexican government and the Indigenous Yalálag community. The brand was compelled to issue a public apology for its "Oaxaca Slip-On" sandal design, which replicated traditional designs without authorization. The controversy highlighted the need for greater respect for the intellectual property and livelihoods of Indigenous communities.

  9. 8

    Tomorrowland Security Incident (2025)

    0 Global Votes
    • No injuries reported despite major fire

      (+1)

    The Tomorrowland Security Incident in 2025, which saw the main stage destroyed by fire, created a significant reputational crisis for the brand. This event brought into question the festival's safety and risk management, despite no injuries being reported and the festival proceeding.

  10. 9

    Coldplay's "kiss cam" scandal (2025)

    0 Global Votes

    This incident publicly exposed an alleged inappropriate relationship between a CEO and his HR Director, creating a significant reputation crisis for the company Astronomer. The event went viral globally, leading to intense scrutiny of corporate ethics and conflict of interest management within the company's leadership.

  11. 10

    Tesla Autopilot Accidents (2024-2026)

    0 Global Votes

    Tesla Autopilot accidents have generated a significant reputation crisis for the brand due to concerns about the safety of its driver-assistance systems. NHTSA investigations and incident reports, including fatalities, have called into question the reliability of the technology and the company's communication regarding it.

  12. 11

    Starbucks Racial Bias Incident (2018)

    0 Global Votes

    This incident represented a massive reputational crisis for Starbucks, drawing widespread public condemnation and accusations of racial discrimination. The company's response, including closing thousands of stores for bias training, demonstrated the severity of the impact on its brand image and the need for large-scale corrective action.

  13. 12

    Nestlé Baby Formula Controversy

    0 Global Votes

    This controversy has generated a prolonged reputation crisis for Nestlé, marked by accusations of unethical marketing practices that contributed to infant mortality in developing countries. The company has faced international boycotts and constant scrutiny over its compliance with the WHO Code on Breast-milk Substitutes, demonstrating a significant impact on its public image.

  14. 13

    Air Europa Customer Service Issues (2025)

    0 Global Votes

    Air Europa faced a reputation crisis in 2025 due to an onslaught of complaints regarding its poor customer service. Passengers reported recurring issues with lost luggage, cancelled flights, and ineffective customer support, leading to a very negative public perception.

  15. 14

    Ballantine's Misleading Advertising (2025)

    0 Global Votes
    • Named Scotch Whisky Brand Champion

      (+4)

    Ballantine's advertising campaign in 2025 faced scrutiny for deceptive practices, contributing to a reputation crisis for the brand. It aligned with a broader trend of false advertising and questionable labeling that was investigated by consumer organizations that year.

Frequently asked questions

This ranking evaluates brands that have faced significant reputation crises, based on public events and their impact on brand image and operations, such as sales declines or product recalls.
Brands are selected based on the notoriety and impact of their reputation crises, including highly publicized incidents, ethical controversies, or product safety issues that caused significant damage to their public image.
We consider a variety of crises, from controversies over racist advertising, like H&M's, to product safety issues leading to massive recalls, such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 case, and environmental or litigation scandals, like Volkswagen's.
The results provide examples of brands that have experienced severe reputation issues. They serve as case studies to understand different types of crises and their consequences, highlighting the importance of reputation management.

How we built this ranking and what to consider when choosing

This ranking is compiled from an analysis of public case studies of brands that have faced significant reputation crises. Our goal is to offer a clear insight into the challenges companies can encounter and how these impact their image and operations.

  • Brands that have been subject to widely documented controversies in the media, such as incidents of racism, product failures, or ethical scandals, are identified.
  • The impact of these crises on brand reputation is evaluated, considering factors such as public reaction, product recalls, sales declines, and negative media coverage.
  • Examples of how brands attempted to mitigate the damage are included, such as removing controversial products or offensive words from their campaigns, though not always with immediate success.
  • The information is based on publicly available data and reports, providing a real-world context for the situations that led to the reputation crisis.
  • The brand must have experienced a publicly recognized reputation crisis that was widely covered by the media.
  • The crisis must have resulted in a tangible negative impact on the brand, such as decreased sales, product recalls, or cancellation of contracts with public figures.
  • Cases illustrating different types of crises are considered, including issues of racism, product safety failures, and ethical and environmental scandals.
  • The crisis must have generated significant public debate and tested the brand's ability to manage adverse situations.