A breakout product can quickly become a liability when growing sales expose defects that were once rare or difficult to detect. Research on millions of vehicle sales and recalls over a decade shows that higher-selling products accumulate more recalls and are recalled sooner, underscoring how scale increases both the likelihood of detecting problems and the consequences of overlooking them. To avoid this 'popularity trap,' leaders need to rethink product governance as demand grows. Three practices are essential: treating popularity as increased exposure that requires stronger oversight, investigating anomalies and weak signals before they escalate, and responding to product failures with transparency, accountability, and concrete corrective action.
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