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Category Archives: quality
Japanese Top CR Reliability Survey Again. Ford, Lincoln Plummet
Toyota Motor Corporation’s three brands – Scion, Toyota, and Lexus took the highest places in the latest reliability survey released today at the Automotive Press Association in Detroit. The Toyota brands were followed by four other Japanese makes: Mazda, Subaru, Honda, and Acura, respectively. All of the models produced by the top seven Japanese brands had average or better reliability according to Consumer Reports, based on a survey of 800,000 owners who reported on 1.2 million vehicles up to ten years old. Of the 90 Japanese models reflected in the Consumer Reports brand comparison, 86 were average or better, with 35 earning the highest rating. Continue reading
CODA Recalls 2012 EVs for Defective Airbags
CODA Automotive is recalling 78 of its 2012 model year EVs because a manufacturing error incorrectly installed the side curtain airbags. Because of the defect, the airbag may not deploy properly in its four-door sedan, which only recently went on sale. In a statement the small, privately-held California company said it knows of no injuries. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, manufacturing, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, coda, coda recalls, Ken Zino, nhtsa
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Consumer Reports Auto Tester David Champion Joins Nissan
Nissan today announced the hiring of former Consumer Reports Auto Test Center Senior Director, David Champion, for a newly created position of executive adviser, competitive assessment and quality. The Japanese automaker is launching five new vehicles in 15 months, and its quality reputation is decidedly uneven. Consumer Reports rates 13 of 25 Nissan and Infiniti models this year as recommended buys. The J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability report has both Nissan and Infiniti well below industry average. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, people, quality
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, consumer reports, j.d power, Ken Zino, nissan
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Mercedes-Benz Recalls ML Class Floor Mats for Pedal Interference
Unlike the infamous floor mat recalls on Toyota and Lexus models starting in 2010, which had associated deaths, Mercedes-Benz uses an electronic brake-override that is standard equipment across the line. Drivers can bring any Mercedes to a stop by depressing the brake pedal, even if the gas pedal is fully depressed or jammed at the floor. When both the brake pedal and gas pedal are depressed at the same time, vehicle electronics override the gas pedal signal and bring the engine to idle as long as the driver keeps the brake pedal depressed. Continue reading
Toyota Recalls 780,000 RAV4 and Lexus HS 250h Models
Toyota Motor Sales is recalling 2006 to early 2011 model year RAV4 and 2010 model year Lexus HS 250h vehicles sold in the U.S. because the rear suspension can fail, leading to loss of control. In a statement notable for its lack of detail about accidents, injuries and fatalities, TMS said that about 760,000 Toyota RAV4 and 18,000 Lexus HS 250h models are involved in this latest quality problem Continue reading
Posted in auto news, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Ken Zino, lexus, recalls, toyota
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More than 640,000 Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute SUVs Recalled for Unintended Acceleration after NHTSA Opens Defect Probe
Ford and Mazda are recalling Escape and Tribute SUVs from the 2001 up to the 2008 model year because a cruise control cable can stick and cause unintended acceleration. Since repair parts are not available, dealers will disconnect the cruise control as an interim measure for the safety defect.
The recall was forced when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration two weeks ago opened an unintended acceleration investigation on 2001 through 2004 Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute SUVs after receiving 99 reports of unintended acceleration from owners. At least one fatality and nine injures are alleged in multiple accidents. Sixty-eight stuck throttle reports are from Ford Escape owners; thirty-one reports are from owners of Mazda Tributes. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, engineering, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, ford recalls, Ken Zino, mazda recalls, nhtsa, recalls, unintended acceleration
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Toyota Adds 150,000 Lexus Models to Deadly Floor Mat Recall. NHTSA Says Filing Lacks Required Info. Another Cover-up?
In Toyota’s carefully worded latest filing with NHTSA, Toyota U.S. said, “the accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver’s floor mat.” NHTSA in acknowledging this terse and incomplete notification said that it lacked much of the required information under U.S. safety regulations. The Toyota report is missing the required chronology of events that were the basis for its decision to conduct an expanded safety recall, including a summary of all warranty claims, field or service reports, and other information, with their dates of receipt. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, litigation, news analysis, quality, recalls, results, safety
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Massive Recall on Chevrolet Cruze for Fires Caused by Leaks
Chevrolet is recalling more than 410,000 Cruze models because oil and fuel leaks can cause fires. Model year 2011 and 2012 Cruze compact sedans are affected by the safety defect. In required filings with NHTSA, GM said that it would modify the engine shield under the vehicle. This change will help prevent any liquids from being trapped in the engine compartment, where a fire could start and spread. The GM safety action was prompted by customer complaints to NHTSA about smoke or fires in the engine compartment. It appears that careless oil changes are responsible for the oil leaks Continue reading
Posted in auto news, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, cruze fire recall, Ken Zino, nhtsa, recalls
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Acura Recalls TL Sedans for a Bad Power Steering Hose
Acura will recall 52,615 model-year 2007-2008 TL sedans in the United States to replace the power steering hose. The power steering hose form an unidentified supplier may deteriorate and develop a fluid leak. Leaking power steering fluid could lead to loss of power steering assistance or, if it leaks onto a catalytic converter, it can result in smoke, or in the worst case, a fire. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged acura recalls, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Ken Zino, nhtsa, recalls, tl recall
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Ford Recalls Focus for Defective Windshield Wipers
Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 140,000 Focus compact cars because the windshield wipers can fail. Model year 2012 Focus cars were built at the Michigan Assembly Plant without a proper seal on the wiring harness for the passenger-side windshield wiper motor. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, manufacturing, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, focus recalls, ford recalls, Ken Zino, nhtsa, recalls
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Honda Recalls 554,000 CR-V and Pilot SUVs for Bad Headlights
This headlight recall apparently mirrors an earlier Honda headlight recall on 143,083 model year 2007 and 2008 Fit vehicles because of a bad headlight switch, which caused the low-beams to fail and possibly start a fire. Continue reading
Nissan Recalls Infiniti M45 for Bad Electronic Gas Gauges
In the pre-Toyota cover-up fines from NHTSA, it appears that Nissan ignored the safety problem and warranty data. In the post Toyota fine era at NHTSA, the number of recalls from Japanese makers, not coincidentally, has accelerated dramatically.
This is the sixth major Nissan recall since the fall. Earlier recalls involved Nissan and Infiniti gasoline leaks, oil leaks, sudden stalling on Sentra models, Juke turbocharger boost sensors, and defective Rogue electric power steering control computers. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, news analysis, quality, recalls, results, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, infiniti recalls, Ken Zino, nhtsa, nissan recalls, recalls
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Corrosion Recall Covers More than 265,000 Jeep Liberty SUVs
The suspension failure investigation was upgraded by NHTSA to a more serious engineering analysis covering 2004 and 2005 models last September. It appears from publicly available documents that Chrysler resisted the recall, doing so only after a meeting with safety regulators in February. The recall to replace all the suspension arms is expected to begin in April. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, engineering, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, jeep recalls, Ken Zino, liberty recalls, nhtsa, recalls
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Toyota Recalls Almost 700,000 Vehicles in U.S. for Camry, Venza and Tacoma Electronic Faults
The latest quality gaffs can cause vehicle no-starts, failed stoplights, stuck transmission gear levers as well as warning lights going off, and airbags not going off in three separate high-volume vehicle lines. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, camry recalls, Ken Zino, nhtsa, tacoma recalls, toyota recalls, venza recalls
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Ford, Lincoln Change Touch Screens after Quality Ratings Dive
While Ford keeps claiming its customers want electronic features such as MyFord Touch, saying 56% of them rate the technology as an “important” part of the buying decision, its quality and customer satisfaction ratings by users as measured from independent sources have plummeted during the three years since introduction. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, design and styling, distracted driving, news analysis, quality, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, consumer reports, Ford, infotainment, Ken Zino, myford touch, mylincoln touch, quality, telematics, touch screen
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