Category Archives: quality

Airbag Malware – Honda Recalls ~440,000 Odyssey Vans

Posted on 15 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“The SRS ECU deployment threshold margin calibration was too sensitive to under-body impacts, which could cause the side curtain or side airbags to deploy unexpectedly when subjected to strong impacts caused by potholes, speed bumps, or debris on the road, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. As of 2 April 2026, there have been 25 reports of injury and no reports of death related to this issue from 24 January 2017 until today. Continue reading →

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

CARFAX Report Now Predicts a Vehicle’s Future

Posted on 7 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“This marks an important milestone for CARFAX and for the people who rely on our data every day,” said Paul Nadjarian, Chief Product Officer at CARFAX. “With over 151,000 data sources and more than 35 billion records, we’re introducing a powerful new insight into a vehicle’s lifecycle. Much like a crystal ball, our future Reliability will help shoppers understand the road ahead, including what repairs to anticipate and what they may cost, and soon, insights into how long that car will last – empowering consumers to buy with confidence and help them plan ahead.” Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, customer satisfaction, marketing, news analysis, prices, quality, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volkswagen Recalls 2025 Jetta and Taos Vehicles for IP failures

Posted on 6 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“When the ignition is switched on, the instrument cluster may read incorrect or corrupt Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) data required for proper system initialization. If invalid data is detected, the software discards the data and applies default configuration values. However, the instrument cluster and the immobilizer system are not designed to operate using these default values, which can result in the instrument cluster failing to function as intended. Software revisions introduced over time significantly increased NVM access and data traffic within the instrument cluster, thereby increasing the likelihood of NVM-related errors,” Volkswagen said in the required safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Continue reading →

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

Mercedes-Benz USA 2026 Model-Year Air Bag Recall

Posted on 6 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“The passenger air bag fabric may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended.,” Mercedes said in the required safety defect filing made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Continue reading →

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

Lexus 2022-24 Model-Year Front Passenger Airbag Recall

Posted on 6 April 2026 by Ken Zino

The front passenger seat in the subject vehicles is secured to a seat frame, which is equipped with a stopper and has an Occupant Classification System (OCS) that provides input to the Supplemental Restraint System to determine the deployment strategy of the front passenger airbag system, depending on the occupant load. Due to a manufacturing error during a specific production period at a certain supplier’s plant [Toyota Boshoku Corporation – AutoCrat], some vehicles may have an insufficient clearance between the seat frame and the stopper when taking into account normal production variation. If there is insufficient clearance, interference can occur between the seat frame and the stopper if the seat height is adjusted to certain positions, depending on the occupant load applied,” Toyota said in the required safety defect recall filing (49 CFR § 573) made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Continue reading →

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

Ford Recalls for Diesel Pumps, Seat Belts, Rearview Cameras

Posted on 30 March 2026 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is conducting recalls for more than 252,000 vehicles for a variety of safety defects including electrical system programming management and manufacturing assembly errors. The largest involves the loss of the rearview camera image and advanced driver assistance (ADAS) systems, including pre-collision assist, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring on model year 2022-2025 Lincoln Navigator, 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2025 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles. Continue reading →

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

Sudden Power Loss – Ford Motor Recall Parade Persists

Posted on 16 March 2026 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~48,000 model year 2025 Ranger, Mustang, Maverick,  and Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power. Affected vehicles are equipped with suspect Korean-made EGR valves installed in the 2.0-liter Gas, and 2.0-liter Hybrid Engines.

“Customers may initially experience weak acceleration, engine vibration, a no start condition, or a check engine light,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. Ford is operating under a consent order from NHTSA because of its previous handing of recalls Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, engineering, mobility company, news analysis, public health, quality, recalls, safety, software defined vehicles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Expands Owners’ Manual Recalls

Posted on 16 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 13 April 2026, GM said in the required safety defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration  (NHTSA) this morning. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, electronics, manufacturing, news analysis, public health, quality, recalls, results, safety, software recalls | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Instrument Panel Display Failures – Honda, Acura Recalls

Posted on 9 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“Due to software defects, the instrument cluster and center infotainment display can go blank while the vehicle is in operation. When the condition occurs, the instrument cluster will not display vehicle information, including but not limited to the speedometer, tachometer, warning telltales, and indicator lamps,” Honda said in the required safety defect recall filing made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Continue reading →

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

Ford Recalls Escape, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, Corsair SUVs

Posted on 9 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“On the affected vehicles, it may be possible to have the SYNC screen image on the center display flipped or inverted immediately after an ignition cycle. This may result in the image displayed having inverted or flipped buttons, camera guidelines, and the rear-view camera image while in reverse gear,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Continue reading →

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

Silverado and GMC HD Pickups Recalled for Sudden Stalling

Posted on 9 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“In these vehicles, the driver may not be warned if the rear fuel pump does not transfer adequate fuel to the front tank, which can cause a stall,” GM told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which publicly released the required safety defect recall documents this morning. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, quality, recalls, safety, software recalls | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Transit Brake Failure Recall

Posted on 2 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“Certain vehicles may have been built without the cotter pin that secures the brake booster pushrod to the brake pedal, which can cause the brake booster pushrod to separate from the brake pedal. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 105 Hydraulic and electric brake systems, section S5.6 Brake system integrity,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today. Continue reading →

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

Stellantis Posts Full Year 2025 Loss of €22.3B

Posted on 26 February 2026 by Ken Zino

“In the second half of the year we began to see initial, positive signs of progress with the early results of our drive to improve quality, strong execution of the launches of our new product wave and a return to top line growth. In 2026 our focus will be on continuing to close the execution gaps of the past, adding further momentum to our return to profitable growth,” claimed Filosa. [A large portion of the Stellantis Corporate farm appears to be bet on its ability to sell large Ram pickup trucks and some cars with V8 engines – Hemi – and sell more Jeeps in North America where GM and Ford are firmly entrenched. Affordability is an issue as well, so a mid-size Dakota Pickup truck is in the works. – AutoCrat] Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, engineering, financial results, manufacturing, marketing, mobility company, news analysis, quality, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rear-Wheel Lockup Recall on 2020-22 GM Diesel Pickups

Posted on 23 February 2026 by Ken Zino

General Motors (NYSE: GM) is recalling ~1100 model-year 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 pickups with diesel engines that may have been repaired incorrectly with the wrong software under NHTSA recall 24V797. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up.

“Dealers were presented with an option in GM’s Global Warranty Management (GWM) system to mark a vehicle as having been remedied without first verifying the most recent software version was available. That option has been removed,” GM said in the required safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, public health, quality, recalls, safety, software defined vehicles, software recalls | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Transmission Failures – Toyota Recalls 2025-26 Lexus LX600s

Posted on 23 February 2026 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (NYSE: TM, 7203T) is recalling ~4400 model year 2025-2026 Lexus LX600 vehicles for software problems that can cause transmission damage, sudden loss of power and fires.

“The subject vehicles are equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission that contains linear solenoids to control the shifting of gears. If a solenoid failure occurs under certain driving conditions, communication may not occur between the Transmission Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and the Engine ECU about the failure, resulting in the transmission over-revving in certain gears. This could result in damage to the transmission and a loss of motive power while driving at higher speeds, which could increase the risk of a crash,” Toyota said in the required safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, engineering, public health, quality, recalls, safety, software recalls | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment