Category Archives: customer satisfaction

Nissan and Infiniti Recalls for Bad Airbags

Posted on 11 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Nissan North America (Nissan) is recalling model-year 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50 and 2023 Rogue vehicles because of bad airbags that might not  protect the driver, according to the required filling that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made public this morning. Quick action by Nissan limited the scope of the potential safety defect. Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bidenomics and the State of the Union

Posted on 8 March 2024 by Ken Zino

Once again President Biden took on the failed economic polices of the party of no hope, aka Republicans, and the former mis-administration disaster that he inherited in his State of the Union address last night. Nowhere is the contrast between good public policy and the republican politics of hate more evident than the ongoing recovery from the pandemic.

During an inspiring campaign speech that lasted more than an hour, Biden addressed – among other things – our economy. “I came to office determined to get us through one of the toughest periods in our nation’s history. And we have. It doesn’t make the news but in thousands of cities and towns the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told. … America’s comeback is building a future of American possibilities, building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down, investing in all Americans to make sure everyone has a fair shot … I inherited an economy that was on the brink,” Biden said. Continue reading →

Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, blog, customer satisfaction, economy, environment, financial results, labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis, public health, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Chinese Junk Watch – EVERCROSS EV5 Hoverboard Fires

Posted on 7 March 2024 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today is warning consumers to immediately stop using EVERCROSS EV5 hoverboards because they pose a risk of fire to consumers. CPSC has received one report of a fire, resulting in substantial property damage to a residential building in New York City in May 2023.* They were sold online on Amazon.com, eBay.com, Likesporting.com, Lowes.com, Newegg.com, Ridefaboard.com and Walmart.com for between $180 and $300 from July 2021 to the present.

“EVERCROSS has not agreed to recall these hoverboards or offer a remedy to consumers,” CPSC said. In AutoInformed’s view, Chinese products remain a problem both in their design, manufacturing quality control and labor employment practices. Continue reading →

Posted in blog, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, electronics, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mercedes USA Recalls 2023-24 Models for Sudden Stalls

Posted on 26 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling ~32,000 models.* The 80-amp fuses used in them may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the fuses to fail. An 80-amp fuse that fails can result in a sudden loss of drive power or a loss of critical safety functions such as the restraint systems or instrument cluster, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Additionally, there could be an increased risk of a fire.

In the required filing made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Mercedes said that before the failure occurs, the driver “will not receive a warning due to the nature of the failure mechanism.” Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, manufacturing, mobility company, news analysis, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Recalls Expeditions, Navigators for Bad Seat Belts

Posted on 26 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles, according to documents made publicly available by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning.

The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend. About 80,000 SUVs are involved in a safety defect that occurs because of rust. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ayvens and Stellantis – 500,000 Fleet Sales Deal

Posted on 26 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Ayvens* (Euronext: ALD) and Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) said today that they have reached a multi-billion euro agreement “that encourages Ayvens’ affiliates to buy as many as 500,000 vehicles for its long-term leasing fleet across Europe during the next three years. The first significant delivery volumes are expected to begin in the first half of 2024 and continue throughout the year.

“One of the shared priorities will be integrating Stellantis’ innovative range of sustainable vehicles to support Ayvens’ multi-brand strategy,” the mobility companies said. Their stock prices are contrary with Stellantis near record highs and Ayvens near record lows. Stellantis also has its own leasing business, which is to a degree a competitor of Ayvens. Continue reading →

Posted in connected vehicles, customer satisfaction, economy, marketing, mobility company, news analysis, shows and events, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mustang Matte Clear Film Coming from Ford

Posted on 26 February 2024 by Ken Zino

The 2024 Mustang Matte Clear Film is a product of PPG. It’s designed to withstand harsh detergents used at hand or touch-less car washes, as well as road salt, bird droppings, bug splatter, and asphalt residue, Ford claims. Orders will start 27 February. This option comes with the same 3-year/36,000-mile factory warranty that applies to all 2024 Mustang cars.

Customers who order the Mustang Matte Clear Film for the Mustang Dark Horse will not get the standard Hood Accent Stripe or be able to select the Painted Racing Stripe. Matte Clear Film is not available with the GT California Special package, or the optional graphics packages on the Mustang EcoBoost and GT.

Graphic delete will also be a stand-alone item on the Mustang Dark Horse for customers who prefer a less conspicuous appearance on the most track-capable 5.0-liter Mustang with the 2024 Dark Horse Handling Package. Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, design and styling, marketing, milestones, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Recalls 2023 Explorers for Loose Steering Knuckles

Posted on 19 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling some 2023 Explorer vehicles because the right-front lower fastener connecting the steering knuckle and strut may be loose or missing, according to document made public by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today. Lincoln Aviator models made at the same plant, Chicago Assembly, are not affected by this safety defect.

A loose or missing connection between the knuckle and strut can cause improper tire alignment, resulting in a steering pull or require increased steering effort. Moreover, the brake hose may contact the tire and become damaged, resulting in a brake fluid leak and a loss of braking. Either of these circumstances can increase the risk of a crash. Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, manufacturing, quality, recalls | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Trends – Climate Change and Post Covid Consumer Views

Posted on 16 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Jen Brace, Trends and Futuring Manager at Ford Motor (NYSE: F) yesterday noted several trends in global research that show post-pandemic shifts in consumer sentiment and how people are reacting to technology by rewriting the rules of living, working, buying, and traveling. The self-professed “data nerd” shared the latest Ford consumer research with the Society of Automotive Analysts via Zoom. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, environment, global warming, people, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota Cleans Daihatsu House Over False Tests

Posted on 13 February 2024 by Ken Zino

“President-to-be Inoue has for many years been working on structural reform of Toyota’s Latin American business, including a renewed regional management system involving Brazil and Argentina. Despite the many difficult decisions he has had to make, he is a leader who has moved reforms forward by implementing thorough dialogue with front-line members. Utilizing this experience, he will lead the revitalization of Daihatsu as the person responsible for ‘on-site management,’ Executive Vice President-to-be Kuwata will promote corporate cultural and organizational reform initiatives by leveraging his experience in human resources and on-site management,” Toyota said. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, blog, customer satisfaction, fools 'n frauds, fuel economy or emissions, labor issues, mobility company, people, quality, safety, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kia Recalls 2024 Tellurides for Sudden Engine Failures

Posted on 12 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Kia America  (Kia) is recalling 2024 Telluride vehicles because the engine valve springs may break while driving, which can result in a sudden loss of power and possibly create a hole in the engine block, which is a fire hazard. Abnormal engine noise, check engine light illumination, and a rough running engine are warning signs that the driver may notice before the engine fails. Tellurides are made in Georgia at a non-unionized plant.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today released the required recall filing. Kia told NHTSA that “The engine valve springs may break while driving due to fatigue cracking as a result of damage to the springs during manufacture by the supplier. A broken valve spring may result in a loss of motive power. In rare cases, a hole in the engine block may occur due to a broken valve entering the combustion chamber.” Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nissan Recalls LEAF EVs for Bad Rearview Cameras

Posted on 12 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Nissan North America (Nissan) is recalling ~58,000 model-year 2018-2022 LEAF electric vehicles because damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, “Rear Visibility.” If the rear view image is not available, rearward visibility may be reduced, potentially increasing the risk of a crash. The recalled Leaf models were made at the non-unionized Smyrna, Tennessee assembly plant. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, manufacturing, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mercedes-Benz Recalls GLC models for Headlight Glare

Posted on 12 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling more than 15,500 vehicles because the headlights may be incorrectly adjusted too high during production and create a glare for oncoming traffic. As such, these luxury vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”

The recall was made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Th recall appears to have been set in motion by an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rating of GLC (253 platform) vehicles more than one year ago, including their headlamp adjustments. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, manufacturing, news analysis, public health, quality, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Honda Recalls 750,000 Vehicles for Bad Airbag Deployments

Posted on 12 February 2024 by Ken Zino

“Due to a natural disaster at the manufacturing plant of a tier-2 supplier, the tier-1 supplier temporarily changed the base material in the printed circuit board of the seat weight sensor, which was not sufficiently verified for its intended use. The alternative base material could allow additional strain to the printed circuit board that can lead to a capacitor cracking and an internal short circuit,” Honda said in the required recall filing with NHTSA. Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra Pickup Recall for Bad Tailgates

Posted on 12 February 2024 by Ken Zino

Only 2500 and 3500 (HD) series vehicles that are equipped with the manual gate with power lock and release (RPO QT5) are affected by this recall. HD series vehicles with other tailgate configurations are not affected by this recall, GM said in the filing. GM has also stopped delivery of the vehicles. It is a violation of federal law for a dealer to deliver a new motor vehicle or any new or used item of motor vehicle equipment until the defect is remedied. If the driver does not manually close the gate before beginning a drive, cargo in the bed of the truck may exit the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, engineering, news analysis, quality, recalls | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment