Category Archives: customer satisfaction

Ford and Lincoln Add Zoom App Meet on the Move

Posted on 4 June 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor (NYSE: F) said today that it is launching the Zoom app Meet on the Move. It is built and customized specifically for vehicles in the U.S. equipped with the all-new Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience.* With the new digital cabin, customers can bring along things they use in their so-called digital life, including their favorite apps to be entertained or to stay productive on the go – all without a smartphone – Ford said in a release. This is unique because it offers an immersive experience built directly into the vehicle, which is different from using smartphone projection. Whether this is a distinction without a real difference remains to be seen. Continue reading →

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Ford Motor Recalls – Seat Belts, Instruments, Lost Steering

Posted on 2 June 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling more than 36,000 vehicles for a variety of safety defects. Included are Lincoln Aviator and Corsair, Transit and F150 Lightning models, according to filings made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Among the group of the latest Ford Motor recalls, the most potentially deadly safety defect appears to be loss of steering control caused by “Front Control Arm Separation” covering 2024-2025 model F-150 Lightning battery electric vehicles.

“Certain vehicles may have an improperly torqued nut on the ball joint which secures the front upper control arm to the knuckle assembly. An improperly torqued nut on the ball joint can result in separation of the front upper control arm from the knuckle assembly,” Ford told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the mandatory safety defect recall filing. Continue reading →

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Autonomous Vehicles – Skepticism Rules Consumers

Posted on 30 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Virtually all automakers now have some type automated driving system categorized as Level 2 or Level 2+ on the SAE Autonomous Driving Levels standard. These include General Motors’ Super Cruise; Tesla Autopilot; and numerous Mercedes, BMW and Stellantis systems in Europe and Nio in mainland China. More options are becoming obtainable each year.

“The choice between Level 3 automation [conditional] and Level 2/Level 2+ systems [partial automation] often divides the industry, resulting in notable differences in strategies among autonomous vehicle companies,” said Vivek Beriwal of S&P Global Mobility, a distinct part of S&P Global. “A key assumption of Level 3 systems is that the automaker assumes liability for its safe operation in “autonomous mode.” This has caused some automakers to focus on expanding functionality within Level 2+ while delaying any potential Level 3 upgrades,” Beriwal observes. Continue reading →

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More IndyCar Cheating Penalties Coming to Detroit

Posted on 30 May 2025 by Ken Zino

IndyCar this morning announced a six-position starting grid penalty for the entries of No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing and No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, which is the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Sunday, 1 June on the Streets of Detroit. Ironically the violations are both on Honda powered cars. Continue reading →

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EV App Gap Frustrates Growing Number of Users

Posted on 29 May 2025 by Ken Zino

“The report includes apps from the top 28 award-eligible brands that sell EVs in the United States; 10 profiled EV brands in China; and eight profiled EV brands in Europe. Brands from China and Europe are included in this report given their expanding presence in the EV marketplace. Additionally, 1966 EV owners in the United States were surveyed in March-April 2025 to gather insights on app usage; feature desirability; and app overall execution for the 2025 report,” said Power. Continue reading →

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Light Truck Tread Separation Recall from Michelin Tire

Posted on 23 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Michelin North America is recalling ~7000 Agilis Cross Climate C-Metric tires, size 185/60R15C. This is a an aftermarket replacement all weather tire. If placed into service, the affected tires may not provide the expected performance and could potentially increase the risk of a crash.

“Chunks of tread rubber may detach from the shoulder blocks. As such, these tires fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 139, New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles,” Michelin told the National Highway Traffic Safet Administration in the mandatory safety defect recall filing. NHTSA made the Michelin tire recall public this morning. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – GM Loyalty Mastercard

Posted on 20 May 2025 by Ken Zino

General Motors (NYSE: GM) said today that it is redesigning its GM Rewards™ loyalty program and announcing the launch of the GM Rewards™ Mastercard® from Barclays US Consumer Bank. The revamped loyalty program is said to be simpler. Moreover, the new card provides customers more ways to earn and redeem GM Rewards points across GM brands for new vehicles, services, parts and accessories. GM Rewards members can also earn and redeem GM Rewards points towards digital services like most OnStar plans and Super Cruise [see footnote 1], the hands-free driver assistance technology which can be used on about 750,000 miles of compatible roads across the U.S. and Canada.

“GM has led the U.S. automotive industry in loyalty for a decade [2], and now we’re rewarding both our new and existing members with easier access to savings opportunities and new ways to engage with us,” said Ralph Darmo, VP of loyalty programs at GM. “Additionally, we’re creating exciting member-exclusive experiences that only GM can provide – such as trackside access at racing events and off-the-grid EV excursions. Cardmembers can use the new GM Rewards Mastercard to earn GM Rewards points from everyday purchases like food, shopping and travel. And you can redeem GM Rewards points towards your next vehicle, for accessories or features to upgrade your vehicle, and for services.” Continue reading →

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Bad Brakes! Recalls on Ford Expeditions, Lincoln Navigators

Posted on 14 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~274,000 2022-2024 model year Navigator and Expedition SUVs for failing brakes.

“The front brake line may have been bent during the engine installation process at Ford’s Kentucky Truck final assembly plant,” according to the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading →

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Hyundai Fire Risk Recall on 2025 Palisade SUVs

Posted on 12 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Hyundai Motor America is recalling ~600 Korean-made 2025 model Hyundai Palisade SUVs. An insufficient seal from Korean supplier MNEX on the controller for the electric oil pump may allow moisture to accumulate in the printed circuit board, which can cause an electrical short circuit and result in a fire. Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the recall remedy is completed.

“The tooling used for sealing the EOP controller housing during supplier manufacturing contained a damaged spring,” Hyundai told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which made this mandatory recall filing public this morning. Drivers may perceive a burning/melting odor or the illumination of Malfunction Indicator Light. Continue reading →

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Volvo Car USA Rearview Camera Software Recall

Posted on 12 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Volvo Car USA is recalling ~413,000 model year 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, and 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC and XC90 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. These Volvos fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111 on Rear Visibility. The center display will show “Camera is temporarily not available”.

Wide Angle Vision Module (WAM) Software from Google is the problem. “A fault code may be set under certain conditions, which could result in the backup camera image to not be available for the rest of the driving cycle. Park assist warnings, rear automatic braking and cross traffic alert will still be functional if the vehicle is equipped with those features, which will automatically stop the car if an obstacle is detected,” Volvo told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which made the mandatory recall filing public this morning. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen Recalls ID.BUZZ Third Row Seats

Posted on 5 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling ~6000 model year 2025 ID. BUZZ vehicles. The third-row rear bench is wide enough for three passengers, but is designed for two passengers and equipped with two seat belts. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, Occupant Crash Protection.

“Based on the third-row rear bench seating surface width, the vehicle is required to have three DSPs. The third-row rear bench in the ID.Buzz has only two DSPs and with this only two seat belts available. If three passengers were to be seated the third-row rear bench, there would be insufficient seat belts for all three passengers. This could increase the risk of an injury for passengers in the event of a crash,” Volkswagen said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading →

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Latest Ford Recalls – Bronco SUVs and F-150 Pickups

Posted on 5 May 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling 2022-2023 model year Bronco SUVs, 2023 F-150 Lightning pickups and 2025 F-150 pickups for The 360-degree view camera; the high-voltage battery pack; and the air bag warning label, respectively. All told ~129,000 Ford products are affected – a relatively small number for the automaker.

“Missing or loose retention nuts on the high voltage battery junction box bus bars in the high voltage battery pack may result in electrical arcing, which can increase the risk of fire. In addition, a ‘Stop Safely Now’ message may occur in the instrument cluster followed by loss of motive power, which can increase the risk of a crash.” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing mad public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning about what appears to be the most serious recall.
Continue reading →

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GM Recalls 1.14 Million V8 Engines for Failures and Fires

Posted on 2 May 2025 by Ken Zino

General Motors is recalling more than a million V8 engines used in 2021 – 2024 model year Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with the 6.2L V8 gas engine (RPO L87). The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in these vehicles may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure. This safety defect recall follows years of GM investigating the problem and concluding that no problem existed. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continued its investigation based on persistent complaints from users, NHTSA had an active engineering analysis open when GM made the recall decision.

In the required safety defect recall filing – only some of it was made public by NHTSA, GM said “Engine teardown analysis identified two primary root causes, both of which are attributable to supplier manufacturing and quality issues: (1) rod-bearing damage from sediment on connecting rods and crankshaft-oil galleries; and (2) out of specification crankshaft dimensions and surface finish.” The supplier will remain publicly unknown until all the documents are made public, which is likely next Monday in AutoInformed’s experience. Continue reading →

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Seat Belt and Electrical Recalls from Mercedes-Benz USA

Posted on 28 April 2025 by Ken Zino

Mercedes-Benz USA is recalling a previous recall for fuse boxes, electronic stability control programming and driver’s side seat belt covers, according to documents made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. First, an incorrect fuse box that was not designed for the vehicle may have been installed. Second, the vehicle’s electronic stability program (ESP) may display an incorrect warning light during an ESP system failure. Third, the driver-side seat belt cover may not be properly installed on the seat belt tensioner, which can cause the seat belt anchor to come loose.

All told ~6700 vehicles are affected. NHTSA recall campaigns are 25V255 or 25V-255, 25V254 or 25V-254, 25V253 or 25V-253. Planned owner notification dates are not until June 2025. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls Expedition and Navigator SUVs for Bad Brakes

Posted on 21 April 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~124,000 model year 2017-2018 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster. Customer complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration prompted this latest expansion of a previous safety defect recall.

“In some of the affected vehicles, a seal in the rear of the brake master cylinder may become compromised, allowing brake fluid to leak into the brake booster. If the brake fluid reservoir is depleted below a predetermined level, the driver will be alerted that brake system service is required by a combination of  an audible chime, a full screen message center alert, and illumination of the red brake warning indicator,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect recall notification made public this morning by NHTSA. Continue reading →

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