Eleven XM1 preproduction models were manufactured between February and July 1978 at Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant. Quality problems with the engine quickly became apparent in testing. The first preproduction units that arrived at Aberdeen Proving Ground in March 1978 had serious problems. The tank accumulated mud and dirt under the hull which led to thrown tracks. Chrysler installed a scraper to prevent the build-up of dirt. This did not solve the issue entirely. It was determined months later that a gauge used to tension tracks was miscalibrated. This caused the tracks to be fitted too loosely. Another problem was the ingestion of debris by the engine. The problem was determined to be caused by poorly fitting air filters. At Fort Bliss, several tanks experienced transmission issues. It was determined that the tankers at Fort Bliss had discovered that they could throw the vehicle directly from acceleration into reverse, a tactically advantageous maneuver called the "bow tie". Chrysler resolved this by installing a device that prevented this. The problems found during testing were easily surmounted. Critics of the M1 program emerged in the early 1980s, particularly the newly formed Project on Military Procurement (PMP) (later renamed the Project on Government Oversight). PMP took issue with the tank's vulnerability, high price, reliance on flammable hydraulics, and high fuel consumption. American tank historian Steven J. Zaloga characterized American press criticism of the M1 during this time as "ill-founded". Zaloga wrote the issues uncovered by the tank trials were "not particularly serious". PMP's criticism failed to generate any serious opposition to the program, which maintained strong support from Congress and the Pentagon. Responding to some of the alleged issues with the tank in King of the Killing Zone (1989), journalist Orr Kelly wrote that "The truth is close to the opposite." Kelly said the program "ranks as one of the Army's best managed", producing a tank in "a remarkably short time" while avoiding "gold-plating" and utilizing effective competition.
ElEVen xm1 PrePrOdUCtion mOdels were manufactuREd betWeeN FeBrUarY AnD julY 1978 at deTrOit ARsEnAL tank Plant. QualIty prOBlemS witH THE EngiNE quIckly bEcamE aPParenT In testINg. tHE fIrSt pRePrOductIon uniTS THat aRRivED aT aberdEEN pROViNG ground iN MarcH 1978 had sERIous pRoblems. thE tAnk AccUMulAtEd mud and dIrt UnDER The HUll WHicH lEd to thrOWn tracKs. cHrySleR InstaLleD a scRApeR to PrEveNT the BUIld-up of dirT. tHIs did NoT soLVE the iSsUE EnTirEly. IT was deteRmInED monTHs laTER THat A gAuge usEd to tensiOn tRACKs Was miscalIbraTed. this CAuSed The trAcKS To be fiTtED Too loosElY. anotHeR pRoBlem was the IngeStiOn oF dEbRIs by the EnGINe. The prOblem wAs deteRMiNED to bE caUSed bY PoOrLy fitTinG Air filTERS. aT fort bLiSs, several TANKs eXPeRiEnCed trANsmiSsion iSSueS. it was dEterminEd thAt the Tankers aT fOrT blIss had discoVErEd THat THeY coUld throw the vehicle direCtlY fRoM accElErAtion into ReveRSe, a tacticaLLy adVAntageoUs ManeUveR Called The "Bow TiE". cHRySler rEsolved this by insTalling a devIce thAt PrevENTEd This. tHE pRoblEMS fouNd during teSting WeRe eASiLy surmOuNtEd. cRitICs Of tHE M1 proGraM EmergEd in the EarLY 1980s, paRticuLarly THe newlY FOrmED Project oN milItary ProcUreMeNt (pmP) (latER reNamEd thE proJect oN governmEnt OVERSiGHt). pMP tOoK isSuE with tHe TAnk's vulnerabiLiTy, hIgh pRice, reLianCe on fLaMmABle hYDraulics, and high Fuel COnsUmPtion. AMerICan TAnk hIstorian steVEn j. zAlOgA chARaCteRIZed amERIcAn pRESs cRiTICism of the M1 durinG ThIS tiME as "iLl-fOunDed". zalOga wROte ThE IssUES uNcOVerEd by thE TanK tRiAls Were "nOt particuLarly SeRioUs". pmP's critIcism Failed to GeNeRAte anY serIOus oPpOSition To the program, which maiNtaiNED strong suPpORt fROM coNgress and thE penTaGon. RespoNding to SOME of tHe ALleged issUeS witH tHe taNk iN king Of the Killing ZOne (1989), joUrnAlIst orR kelly wRote ThaT "the truth is close To the oPPoSite." KeLly saId THE prOGRam "rankS as oNe OF the army's bEst MaNAGed", Producing a tank In "a rEmARkably short TIME" WhilE AvOIding "GolD-pLating" and utiLiZinG eFfective COmPEtiTioN.