Category Archives: quality

Silly, but Serious Safety Recalls from Mercedes and Kia

Recalls continue to bedevil automakers as airbag and software issues at Mercedes-Benz and a bad brake vacuum hose at Kia show. These are the result of quality control and development issues in what are admittedly complex automobiles. Continue reading

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Tesla True Believers Note Quality Problems, Still Love Brand

Quality troubles accompanying Tesla Model S and Model X have little influence on the gushing affection Tesla True Believers have for these cars and the brand. Continue reading

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FCA Dedicates World Class Manufacturing Academy

FCA employees and community members can take classes to earn an Associate’s degree through Ivy Tech, then work toward a Bachelor’s degree from Purdue. Continue reading

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SEC Charges GM with GAAP Violations on Ignition Switches

The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged General buy celecoxib 200 mg Motors (NYSE: GM) with GAAP  violations and GM  has agreed to pay a $1 million penalty over deadly ignition swiches. This deal settles charges that deficient internal accounting … Continue reading

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2016 Reliability Study – Ford F150 Not Recommended

Fiat-Chrysler continue to be a depressing example of Detroit’s lack of quality or care for its customers. The Fiat 500L, the most defect-prone new car for the past two years, is now only the seventh-most troublesome. No Fiat or Ram vehicle managed even an average reliability rating. Continue reading

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Chinese-Made Junk – HAUS Mosquito Zapper, Toys R Us Pacifier

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said today that Chinese made HAUS Mosquito Zapper LED Light Bulbs pose and electrical shock hazard. The firm has received two reports of the bulb separating from the connector. No injuries or property damage have been reported. In addition, Toys ‘R’ Us is recalling Chinese-made Pacifier Clips due to choking hazard because the clip’s spring mechanism can break and release small parts. Continue reading

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Polaris – Stop-Ride/Stop-Sale for Fires on Off-Road Vehicles

Polaris Industries (NYSE: PII) is issuing a stop-ride/stop-sale advisory, pending a formal recall for 2016 RZR Turbo off-road vehicles. Continue reading

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Kia Recalls Sedona Minivans for Suspension Failures

In a move approved by NHTSA – but much decreed by critics – it’s a regional recall. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Recalls e-Golf for Shutting Off

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 5561 model-year 2015-2016 e-Golf electric vehicles because diagnostics for the high-voltage battery management system may falsely detect an electrical surge shutting the electric drive motor suddenly. Continue reading

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Only Two Detroit Vehicles Make Consumer Reports Top Picks

The Chevrolet Impala ($39,110) repeated as the Top Pick in the Large Car category, and joins the Ford F-150 ($51,630-$57,565) as the only Detroit Three winners this year. Continue reading

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Honda Recalls Expand Nationwide for Bad Takata Inflators

With this new Takata recall, ~ 8.51 million Honda and Acura vehicles have been or now are subject to replacement of a Takata driver and/or passenger front airbag inflator in the United States. Continue reading

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Mercedes-Benz Recalls C, GLK for Sudden Airbag Explosions

The safety defect is caused by a manufacturing error at its supplier Continental that causes semiconductors in the air bag control unit to corrode and cause the control unit to malfunction. Continue reading

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432k Focus, C-MAX, Escape Recalls for Bad Ignition Switch

In these defective vehicles, among the best sellers at Ford, it is possible for the engine to continue running after turning the ignition key to the “off” position and removing the key. Continue reading

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Chrysler Expands Takata Recall Nationally

Chrysler Group is expanding its current regional recall of Takata PSDI-4 driver airbag inflators to all 50 U.S. States and Federalized Territories at the request of NHTSA. Continue reading

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More Chrysler Group Recalls on Dodge and Jeep SUVs

A week after Chrysler Group’s dismal finish on the initial quality survey from Consumer Reports and the firing of its head of quality control, the company is recalling its best-selling Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee models for defective airbags and malfunctioning electronic stability controls. More 250,000 are involved in the latest, supplier- caused quality problems. Continue reading

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