Category Archives: quality

BMW North America Recalls Mini Models for Short Circuits

BMW of North America is conducting a regional recall of 2008-2014 MINI Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Clubman John Cooper Works, and 2007-2013 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works vehicles.The electronic control module in the driver’s … Continue reading

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

GM Expands Airbag Recalls Over Supplier ARC’s Objections

In an unusual move, NHTSA publicly revealed that it wrote Arc: “As you are aware, on July 13, 2015, the Office of Defect Investigation (“ODI”) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA” or the “Agency”) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE15-027) to investigate certain air bag inflators designed by ARC Automotive, Inc. (ARC). NHTSA opened its defect investigation after learning of two driver air bag inflator field ruptures involving ARC designed inflators,” NHTSA wrote. Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, engineering, litigation, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ford Expanding Explorer SUV Roll-away Recall

The previous powertrain control module (PCM) update completed under recall 22V-255 did not include what is described as “the automatic electronic parking brake feature when the vehicle is shifted to park, as intended.” In addition, the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect. Continue reading

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

Mercedes-Benz USA Recalls 2020-23 Hybrids

The high-voltage battery monitoring system software may not alert the driver of a battery malfunction. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 305, “Electric-powered vehicles: Electrolyte Spillage and Electrical Shock Protection.”

The recall was made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this morning. In the required filing MBAG said it “is not aware of any warranty claims, field or service reports, or reports of property damage, death, or injury related to this defect. Continue reading

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

More Ford Recalls Published – Millions of Vehicles Involved

According to the latest safety defect recalls made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aka NHTSA, Ford Motor Company is also recalling numerous vehicles that have not been published by AutoInformed. These include recalls for windshield wipers, brake calipers, brake hoses, and towing trailer tail lights. In some cases millions of vehicles are involved. Continue reading

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

American Honda Recalls 450,000 Vehicles for Bad Seat Belts

Registered owners of all affected vehicles will be contacted by mail and asked to take their vehicle to an authorized Honda dealer. The vehicles covered by the safety defect recall are: 2017-2020 model-year CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. Continue reading

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

Ford Recalls Steering on Bronco Wildtrak, Bronco Raptor

Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a recall on 3 March 2023. There have been no reports of accident or injury associated with this safety defect.However, owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 27 March 2023. Nexteer Automotive in Auburn Hills Michigan is the supplier of the steering gear. Continue reading

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

Ford Axle Recalls on 2023 F-150, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator

The driver may hear a loud noise when the pinion breaks or as the drive shaft and flange hit the frame cross member and stability bar after pinion fracture. The failure mode could occur at any time in 4×4 application but is expected to occur primarily while in reverse as the pinion is subject to higher loads. Continue reading

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

Ford Recalls Ranger Airbag Recall for Unsafe Repair

Although Ford service instructions include diagrams and instructions for proper airbag inflator installation, technicians who mis-installed the inflator told Ford they did not review the instructions prior to installation. Ford did not name the “select dealerships (responsible) and a certain third-party mobile repair team,”  which discovered botched repair(s) in the required filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading

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

Hyundai Recalls Genesis Models Again for Seat Belt Shrapnel

Hyundai Motor America is recalling more than 65,000 2020-2023 Genesis vehicles because the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment. Affected models are 2020-2023 Genesis GV80, 2021-2023 Genesis G80, 2022-2023 Genesis GV70, and 2023 Genesis GV60, according to a NHTSA filing just made public. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 21V-796 will need to have the new repair completed. Continue reading

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

Ford Motor Recalls 2023 Model Year F-150 Air Bags

The “non-conforming instrument panel toppers” were built by Faurecia Interior Systems in Michigan with either an injection molded substrate that was manufactured with contaminated resin or with a skin cover extruded with contaminated colorant material. Continue reading

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

Multiple Ford Motor Recalls for Rollaway Safety Defects

Owners of all recalled vehicles may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov. Continue reading

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

Ram 2021-23 Pickups and Cab Chassis Recalled for Fires

FCA USA is recalling 2021-2023 model year Ram 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, and 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel engine because an electrical short may occur in the heater grid relay with the ignition on or off. More than 300,00 Ram pickup are involved and they all have the safety defect, according to a filing just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading

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

Another Tesla Self-Driving Recall

The recall is a result of long standing investigations at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the controversial auto pilot system. Tesla, what seems to us arrogantly, did not agree with the NHTSA analysis but went ahead with the recall anyway. It is the latest pr disaster from the firm that no doubt will have social media, uh, all atwitter. Continue reading

Posted in autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, customer satisfaction, news analysis, people, quality | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Tech-Aches – J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study

“It is typical in the automotive industry to roll out concepts and features by putting them in premium vehicles first,” said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. “A bellwether for mass market brands looking to adopt and implement these technology features into their portfolio is in two of the industry’s preeminent studies, the J.D. Power Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) and the Vehicle Dependability Study. Connecting insights from the two studies better informs automakers by substantiating trends and showcasing how some automakers are preventing problems from occurring early on and throughout the ownership experience.” Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, quality | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment