The truth is, the first imported-to-US consumer products were junk.
Funny, as the rise of VW was due to its solid build and reliability. It didn't take long for the little German to beat the British Ford as America's favorite import. The influx of imports by the late-1950s was due to VW's success. By 1960, riding on the coattails of a recession a few years previous, they introduced a sophisticated ad campaign that elevated the brand even more. Maybe they were touting themselves as a "lemon," but VWs were hardly junk.
