Category Archives: quality

Kenworth, Peterbuilt ABS Software Recall

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling ~221,000 Peterbilt and Kenworth buses, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles equipped with Bendix EC80 Advanced Electronic Control Units (ECU) according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“According to Bendix in its recall 24E-086, the ABS, Automatic Traction Control (ATC), or Electronic Stability Control (ESC) may set an ABS fault or may stop operating. Other functions which strongly interact with ABS such as Active Cruse Control (ACC) and Collision Mitigation System (CMS) may also fault. In extremely rare situations before the system faults or stops operating, if there is a stability event or an automated braking request, the system may respond incorrectly to the event. This may increase the likelihood of a crash,” PACCAR said in the required safety defect filing. Continue reading

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Steering Loss – Toyota Recalls Corolla and Corolla Hybrids

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 8057 model year 2023-2024 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid vehicles for the loss of steering control, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Due to cracks developed during the manufacturing process, the steering intermediate shaft assembly may fracture and possibly result in the shaft detaching from the steering column,” Toyota told NHTSA in the required safety defect recall filing. Continue reading

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Recalls – Hyundai Motor America Backup Cameras

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 226,118 model year 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV and 2022 Elantra N and Santa Fe PHEV vehicles, according to the required safety defect filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Due to a damaged printed circuit board, the rearview camera image may fail to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, Rear Visibility,” Hyundai told NHTSA. Continue reading

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Mercedes-Benz USA Recall – Sunroofs Flying Off

Mercedes-Benz USA is recalling 33,456 model year 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles because the glass sunroof panel from Webasto Roof & Components may not be properly secured and can detach, according to the required safety defect filing made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading

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Genesis, Hyundai, Kia recalls for Sudden Power Loss

Hyundai Motor is recalling Genesis, Hyundai and Kia models from the 2022 though 2025 models years because of sudden power loss. Warning symptoms may occur during “fail-safe” mode driving over period of ~20-40 minutes through various illumination of dashboard MIL; an audible chime; warning messages displayed in vehicle information display(s); and noticeable degradation in vehicle motive power or speed.

In the required filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it said “the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) may become damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery, which can result in a loss of drive power.” The vehicle’s “fail-safe” mode will trigger upon detection of a fault associated with over-voltage induced at the start and end of the vehicle’s battery charging cycle or thermal loading during charging/driving. Continue reading

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DOJ – Cruise Deferred Prosecution for Pedestrian Crash

GM’s Cruise autonomous vehicle company* based in San Francisco, fixed a criminal charge in federal court for providing a false record to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with the intent to impede, obstruct, or influence the investigation of a crash involving one of Cruise’s autonomous vehicles. Cruise has agreed to resolve the charge through a deferred prosecution agreement and payment of a $500,000 criminal fine.

“Federal laws and regulations are in place to protect public safety on our roads. Companies with self-driving cars that seek to share our roads and crosswalks must be fully truthful in their reports to their regulators,” said Martha Boersch, Chief of the Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division. Continue reading

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NHTSA Fines Ford $165M for Flouting Recall Law

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today announced a consent order with Ford Motor Company for failing to comply with federal recall requirements. The consent order includes a civil penalty of $165 million, the second-largest civil penalty in NHTSA’s history after the Takata airbag fiasco and the Takata airbag consent order.

“Timely and accurate recalls are critical to keeping everyone safe on our roads,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said. “NHTSA is committed to ensuring manufacturers comply with the laws designed to keep our roads safe. When manufacturers fail to prioritize the safety of the American public and meet their obligations under federal law, NHTSA will hold them accountable.” Continue reading

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GM Recall for Wheel Lockup on Diesel Pickups and SUVs

General Motors (NYSE: GM) is recalling ~462,000 pickup trucks and large SUVs with diesel engines because the rear wheels can lock, increasing the risk of a crash, according to a required recall report made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The huge U.S. safety defect recall covers 2020-2022 model year Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups, as well as the 2021 Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban.

“A transmission control valve in some of these vehicles may be susceptible to excess wear over time, resulting in a gradual loss of pressure within the valve that can cause harsh shifting. In rare cases, the rear wheels may experience a momentary lock up,” GM said in the mandatory filing. “Excessive wear within the transmission control valve body can cause a fluid leak leading to a pressure drop that causes certain valves to move unexpectedly,” GM said. Continue reading

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VW Ensnared in More Takata Airbag Shrapnel Recalls

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 2017-2019 model year Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Volkswagen had been refusing to recall the inflators arguing since 2020 about NHTSA’s interpretation of Takata defect data.*

“The driver’s side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling,” VW said in the required safety defect recall filing. Volkswagens included in this recall are equipped with the Takata SDI-D driver frontal airbag. “An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death,” VW acknowledged. Continue reading

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More Ford Recalls – 2024 Rangers and 2024-2025 Broncos

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) ) is recalling 2024 Ranger, and 2024-2025 Bronco vehicles. The front upper-control-arm ball joint nut may not have been installed or tightened properly, allowing the front upper control arm to detach from the knuckle assembly, … Continue reading

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Ford Recalls Mach-E Models for Power Brake and other Failures

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling 2021 Mach-E vehicles because An Over-The-Air (OTA) update to the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) may result in a loss of power brake assist, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, and driver assistance features. The instrument cluster will display several ABS-related warning lamps and text messages at vehicle startup, according to the required filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today. Continue reading

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Pirelli Recalls Triumph Motorcycle Tires for Tread Separation

Pirelli Tire  is recalling Scorpion Trail II, Metzeler Tourance Next, and Next II tires sold as replacements and for the Metzeler Tourance Next 150/70R18 M/C 70V tire, also installed as original equipment on certain Triumph motorcycles., according to a safety defect filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Partial detachment of the tread layer and/or a sudden loss of air pressure may cause loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash,” Pirelli said in the required recall filing. Pirelli also said is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this safety defect in the U.S. Continue reading

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GM Recalls Blazer, Equinox Models for Sudden Door Openings

General Motors is recalling Mexican-built 2025 Chevrolet Blazer, Blazer EV, and Equinox vehicles because the door strikers were not properly heat-treated, which can cause them to break, according to the required filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. This is an extension of a previous recall. Continue reading

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Sticky Steering Recall for 1.7 Million Honda and Acuras

American Honda Motor Co is recalling ~1.7 million 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed today.

“Due to an improperly produced steering gearbox worm wheel, the wheel can swell during use, reducing the grease film thickness between the worm wheel and worm gear. In addition, the worm gear spring preload was set improperly high, increasing the sliding force between the components. As a result of the reduced grease film thickness and increased sliding force, friction between the worm wheel and worm gear increases,” Honda said in the required NHTSA filing. Continue reading

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NHTSA Issues Park Outside Consumer Alert for Jeep Fires

Owners should park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles until their vehicle has been remedied. In addition, owners should not charge unrepaired vehicles, because the risk of fire is higher in a charged battery and the risk of fire is reduced when the battery is depleted. Continue reading

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