Category Archives: customer satisfaction

Like the Weather, Grey is Top Car Color in Old Blighty

Posted on 22 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“2023 was a bumper year for the British new car market, as buyers continued to gravitate towards familiar monochrome hues for another year – even as ever more motorists embrace new technologies. Car manufacturers have diligently expanded their offerings, with a huge selection of color options available across hundreds of models and thousands of specification options. The extensive variety allows drivers flexibility in choosing a tint that embodies their individuality and style,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive.
Continue reading →

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Volvo Cars Recalls 2024 XC40 Hybrids for Bad Software

Posted on 15 January 2024 by Ken Zino

Volvo Car USA is recalling ~17,409 2024 XC40 hybrid SUVs. A diagnostic error in the Central Electronic Module (CEM) software may cause the left rear turn signal indicator to not function, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in a filing made public today. What is characterized as “a diagnostic mis-detection of short to ground of the left-hand rear turn indicator will result in no function of the left-hand rear turn indicator.” Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls EcoSport and Focus Models for Engine Seizures

Posted on 15 January 2024 by Ken Zino

A loss of engine oil pressure can result in engine damage or seizure, which can result in a loss of motive power and a loss of the mechanical vacuum pump required to provide power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash. The engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm may fracture, separate from the tensioner backing plate, and/or the oil pump drive belt material may degrade and lose teeth, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure, according to the NHTSA filing. Continue reading →

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Lucid Motors Recalls Air Sedans for Defroster Failures.

Posted on 12 January 2024 by Ken Zino

The HVCH supplies warm air for both cabin heat and defrosting capability in Lucid Air vehicles. If an HVCH fails, coolant cannot be heated and the windshield cannot be defrosted. Loss of adequate windshield defrost capability could lead to restricted driver field of vision and an increased risk of a crash. Continue reading →

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Premium Dolby Atmos Storytelling Coming From Mercedes

Posted on 10 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“This collaboration with Audible and Amazon Music is another important facet of digital experience in a Mercedes-Benz. Immersive audio storytelling enables our customers to benefit fully from the advanced sound technology in our vehicles. For us, unparalleled in-car entertainment is a further dimension of the hyper-personalized user experience,” said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management at Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer. Continue reading →

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Air Travel Shows Improvement After DOT Scrutiny, Fines

Posted on 5 January 2024 by Ken Zino

The release of air travel service complaint data in the ATCR has been delayed primarily because of the continued high volume of complaints against airlines and ticket agents received by the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) and the time needed to review and process these consumer complaints. In AutoInformed’s view airlines encourage the use of automobiles.* Continue reading →

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Ford Airbag Recall – 2023 F-150, F250, F350, F450, F550, F600

Posted on 2 January 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling 2023 F-150 and Ford SD F250, F350, F450, F550, and F600 vehicles. The steering wheel clock spring from supplier BCS Automotive Interface Solutions may have an bad weld, causing a loss of electrical connection to the driver’s frontal air bag. The customer may notice loss of illumination and function of switches on the steering wheel, such as radio controls, inoperative horn and an airbag warning light. Continue reading →

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Almost All New US Light Vehicles have Automatic Braking

Posted on 29 December 2023 by Ken Zino

All 20 participating automakers have fulfilled a voluntary pledge to equip nearly all the light vehicles they produce for the U.S. market with automatic emergency braking (AEB), according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Five new manufacturers installed AEB on more than 95% of the light vehicles they produced between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023, to meet the deadline set in a previous agreement.* General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Maserati and Porsche all dramatically increased the proportion of their vehicles equipped with the technology to meet the target. Kia, which was already close last year, also crossed the finish line.

Audi, BMW, Ford/Lincoln, Honda/Acura, Hyundai/Genesis, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan/Infiniti, Stellantis, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota/Lexus, Volkswagen and Volvo fulfilled the voluntary commitment in previous years. Continue reading →

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Ford F-Series Truck Best Seller Again

Posted on 28 December 2023 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company said today that during calendar year 2023 more than 700,000 customers chose a new F-Series truck, making it the best-selling truck in the United States for the 47th consecutive year. (AutoInformed: Ford Claims F-Series Retains Title of Best-Selling Truck in 2022) Continue reading →

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GM Recalls Chevrolet Bolt EVs for Fires Again

Posted on 26 December 2023 by Ken Zino

In the required safety defect report just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, GM said that Bolts with recall 22V-930 completed by dealerships other than Simpson Chevrolet of Irvine are not affected by this new recall. A GM employee submitted this issue to GM’s Speak Up For Safety (SUFS) program on 29 August 2023, following a dealer report that 66 vehicles that received the recall remedy in GM recall 22V930 at Simpson Chevrolet of Irvine were in fact not repaired. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls Maverick Pickups for Defective Software

Posted on 26 December 2023 by Ken Zino

In the required recall documents just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ford said the Mexican built Mavericks contain rear tail-lamps with two turn signal lamp bulbs on each side. The body control module will not provide an outage notification to the driver if only one of the two rear turn signal lamp bulbs has failed. Continue reading →

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Honda Expands Sudden Fuel Pump Failure Recalls

Posted on 26 December 2023 by Ken Zino

American Honda Motor is recalling more than 2.5 million gasoline and hybrid vehicles because the Denso-made fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. In the required safety defect report just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Honda said the fuel pump impeller was improperly molded, resulting in low density impellers. Over time, the low-density impeller can deform and interfere with the fuel pump body, making the fuel pump inoperative. If the fuel pump module is inoperative, the engine may not start or can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Continue reading →

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Porsche Fires – Cayenne, Panamera, Taycan Charging Cables

Posted on 26 December 2023 by Ken Zino

Porsche Cars North America is recalling various models and model years of its Cayenne, Panamera and Taycan hybrid models because the 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable can overheat causing the risk of fires. More than 41,000 Porsches are involved. According to documents just released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Porsche is blaming the home wiring of affected customers for the safety defect. Continue reading →

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Tesla Model S and X Recalls for Failed Side Impact Protection

Posted on 26 December 2023 by Ken Zino

Tesla is recalling more than 120,000 model year 2021-2023 Model S and X vehicles, according to documents just released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The cabin doors can unlock during a crash. These Tesla models fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214 “Side Impact Protection.” Continue reading →

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New Toyota, Lexus Airbag Recall ~1 Million US Vehicles

Posted on 21 December 2023 by Ken Zino

The recalled cars, SUVs and vans have the so-called Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors in the front passenger seat that could have been improperly manufactured, causing a short circuit. This would prevent the airbag system from properly classify the occupant’s weight, and the airbag may not deploy as designed in certain crashes, increasing the risk of injury. Continue reading →

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