WASHINGTON—With six months left in 2014, automakers have already recalled more vehicles in the United States than in any other year on record.

Massive recalls are fast becoming the norm in the auto industry.

DETROIT—GM has urged a local court to offer protection from certain lawsuits being filed against the company over a recall related to faulty ignition switches.

The recent slew of recalls in the auto industry is disturbing. What happened to all those Sig Sigma and lean manufacturing initiatives that are supposed to error-proof assembly?

SEOUL, South Korea—Three top Hyundai executives in Korea have been forced to resign as a consequence of quality problems with the company’s vehicles.