Category Archives: quality

Nissan Recalling More 2023 Ariya EV models for Power Loss

Posted on 5 August 2024 by Ken Zino

Nissan North America is recalling  more 2023 Ariya hybrid EV models because the inverter software may misdiagnose an error, which can shut down the EV system, resulting in a loss of drive power, according to documents made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“All of these Ariya have been previously recalled under Recall 23V-657 (Nissan Ariya Inverter). Nissan Ariya vehicles that have received the reprogramming remedy for Recall 23V-657 no longer contain the issue and are not included in this recall,” Nissan claimed in the required NHTSA filing. Continue reading →

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

Tesla Recalls More 1.8M EVs with Chinese Hood Latches

Posted on 5 August 2024 by Ken Zino

Tesla is recalling more than 1.8 million 2021-2024 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles. The Magna Chinese-made hood latch assembly may fail to detect an unlatched hood after the hood has been opened, according to documents made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading →

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

More Toyota Certification Problems Emerge from MLIT Probe

Posted on 31 July 2024 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Corporation said today that it had received a “correction order” from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), that calls for “drastic reforms to ensure appropriate certification operations.” Akio Toyoda’s chairman’s position remains under threat here from dissatisfied shareholders, AutoInformed notes. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, engineering, litigation, news analysis, quality, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ford EVs and Quality Damage First Half Net Income and EPS

Posted on 26 July 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor (NYSE: F) posted disastrous financial results this week caused by its struggling electric vehicle business and the ongoing costs of large recalls on vehicles of its past. Ford posted Q2 2024 quarter revenue of $47.8 billion, net income of $1.8 billion and adjusted EBIT of $2.8 billion (see the accompanying results chart for Q2 and combined Q1 and Q2 numbers). Leaving aside the Ford spin on the financial results for the moment, the Dearborn based automaker is haunted by its past as well as current management practices sharing a precarious future with other once formidable global legacy automakers. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, financial results, manufacturing, mobility company, news analysis, quality, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hyundai Recalls 55,000 Vehicles for Sudden Power Loss

Posted on 22 July 2024 by Ken Zino

The fuel control valve in the high-pressure fuel pump assemblies equipped in the vehicles could allow excess fuel to enter the fuel pump due to gradual wear of the FCV plunger. An air/fuel  mixture that runs too “rich” may result in a reduction or loss of motive power at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. The problem resulted in a recall in Korea last month. According to HMC, upon detection of a fault, the vehicle entered a “limp” drive mode that limited acceleration when exceeding 60 MPH. Continue reading →

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

BMW Has Yet Another Airbag Shrapnel Recall

Posted on 22 July 2024 by Ken Zino

“The inflator for the driver air bag may not have been produced according to specifications by the supplier. In extremely rare cases, the air bag inflator could rupture, which could result in injury or death to vehicle occupants,” BMW claimed in the required NHTSA filing. Continue reading →

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

FCA US Recalls 332,000 Vehicles for Bad Airbags

Posted on 15 July 2024 by Ken Zino

In the required filing just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, FCA said “A disrupted connector on the buckle switch hall effect may affect the conduction on the connectors of the seat wiring and buckle which may cause the front seat air bag to not perform as expected during a crash.” The part in question was made by ZF Group in Italy as Molex part number 98817-1025. Continue reading →

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

NHTSA Issues Consumer Alert on Faulty Replacement Airbags

Posted on 11 July 2024 by Ken Zino

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that used car buyers and owners need to be aware of cheap, substandard replacement air bag inflators that can cause death or serious injury in a crash. In the last year, three people have been killed and two people have suffered life-altering, disfiguring injuries due to these faulty aftermarket replacement air bag inflators. Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, fools 'n frauds, news analysis, quality, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Recalls 2024 Colorado and Canyon Models for Fuel Leaks

Posted on 8 July 2024 by Ken Zino

General Motors is recalling ~9000 2024 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles for fuel tank leaks. The lock ring that secures the fuel pump to the fuel tank assembly may not have been fully locked during assembly by the supplier Plastic Omnium. This can cause a leak during a crash, possibly leading to a fire, according to GM recall filings released today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Continue reading →

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

Ford Mustang, F-Super Duty Recalls for Steering and Brakes

Posted on 8 July 2024 by Ken Zino

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)  today made public more safety defect recalls on 2022-2023 Ford Mustangs, some 2024 Mustangs as well as 2025 F-Super Duty F-650 and F-750 pickup trucks.  The safety defects come from a variety of causes including, improper heat treating, power steering control module (PSCM) software and body control module (BCM) software. Continue reading →

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

EVs, PHEVs Worse Than Gas Vehicles On Power 2024 IQS

Posted on 27 June 2024 by Ken Zino

“Proponents of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) often state these vehicles should be less problematic and require fewer repairs than gas-powered vehicles since they have fewer parts and systems. However, newly incorporated repair data shows BEVs, as well as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), require more repairs than gas-powered vehicles in all repair categories. “Owners of cutting edge, tech-filled BEVs and PHEVs are experiencing problems that are of a severity level high enough for them to take their new vehicle to the dealership at a rate three times higher than that of gas-powered vehicle owners,” Hanley said. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, electronics, manufacturing, mobility company, news analysis, quality, software defined vehicles, software defined vehicles | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NHTSA Fire Alert – Park Outside! 2020-2024 Kia Tellurides

Posted on 7 June 2024 by Ken Zino

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said today in a Consumer Alert that Kia America has issued a “park outside” recall for 462,869 model year 2020-2024 Telluride vehicle. There is a risk of fire while parked or driving in the vehicles. Kia is advising owners to park their vehicles outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair has been completed. Continue reading →

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

Hyundai Expands Genesis Sudden Power Loss Recall

Posted on 29 April 2024 by Ken Zino

“The low-pressure fuel pump assemblies in the vehicles may contain impellers that can deform under certain environmental conditions, such as high ambient temperature. Deformation of the impeller could cause the impeller to interfere with the fuel pump housing, resulting in a mechanical resistance that could lead to a shutdown of the fuel pump,” the NHTSA filing said. Continue reading →

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

Sudden Power Loss Recall – Bronco Sport, Maverick Trucks

Posted on 22 April 2024 by Ken Zino

“An insufficient calibration strategy for detecting sudden battery degradations during a drive cycle can lead to (a) a vehicle that is unable to restart after an auto start/stop event or (b) experience a stall while coming to a stop at low speed. Either may be accompanied by a loss of 12-volt accessories, including hazard lights,” Ford said in the required filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which the Federal safety agency made public today. NHTSA prompted the recall. Continue reading →

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

NHTSA Probing Whether Ford Fire Recall is Adequate

Posted on 19 April 2024 by Ken Zino

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said just days after this recall was posted by AutoInformed that “The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) reviewed Ford Motor Company’s proposed remedy for recall 24V-187 and started an investigation.” Continue reading →

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