I don't know all of the factors leading up to GM's situation, but I do not think it's about factory workmanship. I think it's more about poor designs and cheap parts. In the last 18 years I've been driving Hondas putting on ~140K to 160 K miles before getting a different one. Almost no repairs. No wheel bearings, no alternators, no mufflers, no A/C pumps, no water pumps, no timing belts. None of that.
Friends driving GM Terrains are getting new wheel bearings at 40 K miles, new mufflers at 50 K. Dodge Caravans have the headlights turn off for no reason, not due to wiring, mind you, but due to bugs in SW. And its $50 bucks to upload the new bug fixed SW at the dealer. Grrrr..
A friend of mine told me she was happy with her Ford Taurus because She got 90K miles before she had to get a new wheel bearing and she was glad to use the extended warrant ( $1600!!!) she bought. WTF!
Personally I'm glad to not need repairs, and to not buy that warranty.
I've had to do only two non-normal maintenance repairs on Hondas in the last 18 years. I had paint flaking on a 1 year old car. Dealer repainted at no cost to me. I had brake lines rust out on a 15 year old Honda that had 150K miles. ( I live in snow country where they salt the roads. ) That's it.