Category Archives: quality

Society of Automotive Analysts – New Board of Directors

Posted on 18 February 2025 by Ken Zino

The Society of Automotive Analysts (SAA) today announced its Board of Directors for 2025. Adam Bernard, Founder and Principal of AutoPerspectives, will serve as SAA president, while Jeff Schuster, President of Forecasting, GlobalData, moves into the vice president role. The SAA’s stated goals are to provide automotive professionals exclusive access to industry leaders, early insights and outstanding networking opportunities. “SAA members include every automotive industry professional interested in timely and useful auto industry data, discussion and dissemination of ideas, concepts and solutions,” the SAA said. Continue reading →

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Toyota and Lexus Recalls for Bad Safety Belts

Posted on 17 February 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling ~50,000 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid, Lexus NX250, NX350, NX350 Hybrid, 2024-2025 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, and RX500 Hybrid vehicles for damaged Mexican made seat belts.

“The second-row center seat belt webbing may be damaged. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 209, Seat Belt Assemblies,” Toyota told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the mandatory safety defect filing made public by NHTSA today. Continue reading →

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GM Recalls Sierra 1500 Trucks for Grilles Flying Off

Posted on 17 February 2025 by Ken Zino

General Motors (NYSE: GM) is recalling more than 70,000 2022 model GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks equipped with chrome front grille deflectors. The attachments that hold the front grille deflectors in place may fracture, resulting in grille detachment, according to the mandatory safety defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today. Continue reading →

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Hyundai Motor America recalls 2025 IONIQ 5 EVs

Posted on 17 February 2025 by Ken Zino

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 2025 IONIQ 5 EV vehicles. The rear floor wiring harness may contain an open circuit, which can result in the rear side airbag not deploying as intended, according to the mandatory safety recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today. The driving will see the Illumination of the airbag warning lamp. A rear side airbag non-deployment may increase the risk of injury to occupants during crashes warranting commanded deployment of the SRS. Continue reading →

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Volvo Car USA Recalls EX90s for Headlight Failures

Posted on 17 February 2025 by Ken Zino

Volvo Car USA is recalling 2025 EX90 electric full-size SUVs. Due to a software error in the low power controller (LPC), the headlight shutters may close over the high and low beams while driving, according to the mandatory safety recall filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A Temporary DIM message is displayed for 2-3 seconds during the safety defect. Continue reading →

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J.D. Power – Three Year Old Vehicle Problems Up

Posted on 14 February 2025 by Ken Zino

The results of this year’s study are consistent with the results of the J.D. Power 2022 Initial Quality StudySM which tracked problems early in the ownership period of 2022 model-year vehicles. That year, initial vehicle quality notably declined from 2021, and problems also reached a record high. Three years later, the issues continue to be problematic for owners, according to findings of the 2025 VDS. (read Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Vehicle Quality Flaws at 36-Year Record High) Continue reading →

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Toyota Recalls 2024-2025 Tacoma Models for Bad Brakes

Posted on 11 February 2025 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor North America is recalling more than 106,000 model 2024-2025 Tacoma 4-wheel-drive vehicles built in Mexico and California. The clearance between the rear brake hose and wheel may allow mud and dirt to build up, which can damage the brake hose and lead to a brake fluid leak. Continue reading →

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MBUSA Recalling EQB models for Battery Fires

Posted on 10 February 2025 by Ken Zino

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling more than 7000 model year 2022-2024 EQB 250, EQB 300 4MATIC, and EQB 350 4MATIC electric vehicles. The high voltage battery may fail internally and lead to a vehicle fire while parked or driving.

In the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning, MBUSA said, “Due to the combination of certain production and vehicle use conditions, an internal short circuit of a battery cell in the high-voltage battery might occur, which could lead to the risk of a fire.” The defective software supplier is Farasis Energy-Ganzhou in China. Continue reading →

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Toyota Recalls a Previous Bad Airbag Recall

Posted on 3 February 2025 by Ken Zino

“An electrical connection inside the steering column’s spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver’s air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Crash Protection,” Toyota said in the mandatory safety defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. Continue reading →

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Software Recall for Honda Pilot, Acura MDX, TLX

Posted on 29 January 2025 by Ken Zino

American Honda Motor (7267.T) is recalling ~295,000 model year 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power.

In the required filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Honda said: “Due to improper programming of the fuel injection electronic control unit settings, sudden changes in the throttle opening could cause the MIL [Malfunction Indicator Light] to illuminate and/or the engine to lose drive power, hesitate and/or stall.” Continue reading →

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Kia Niro Recalls for Air Bags or Seat Belts

Posted on 27 January 2025 by Ken Zino

Dealers will inspect, replace and reroute the floor wiring assembly, as necessary, free of charge as required by long-standing Federal safety regulations. In addition, dealers will install wiring covers. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 14 March 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia’s number for this recall is SC332. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to nhtsa.gov about NHTSA 25V024. Continue reading →

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Ford Bronco Recalls – Shocks and Batteries

Posted on 27 January 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is recalling 149,449 2021-2024 Bronco vehicles. The rear shock absorbers may corrode and fail, resulting in detachment of the external reservoir. Ford is also recalling a previous recall on 272,817 2021-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles. The 12-volt battery may experience degradation and suddenly fail. If the battery suddenly degrades during a drive it can lead to a vehicle that is unable to restart after an auto stop/start event or experience a stall while coming to a stop at low speed. Either of these conditions may be accompanied by a loss of 12-volt accessories, including hazard lights. Continue reading →

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Kia Software Recall for Failed Headlights and Tail Lights

Posted on 20 January 2025 by Ken Zino

Kia America is recalling ~75,000 2024-2025 Sorento, 2025 Sorento Hybrid and 2025 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid vehicles because of loss of headlights and tail lights from a software logic error. Hyundai Mobis in Korea produced the defective component. The safety defect first occurred in Korea.

In the required safety defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Kia said, “A software error in the Body Domain Control Unit (BDC) may cause a loss of low beam headlights and taillights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.” Continue reading →

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New Tesla Recall for Bad Computers

Posted on 13 January 2025 by Ken Zino

Tesla, Inc. is recalling ~240,000 2024-2025 Model 3, Model S, 2023-2025 Model X, and 2023-2025 Model Y vehicles because a computer circuit board may short circuit, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“On a small percentage of affected vehicles, upon vehicle power up, a reverse current may cause a shorting failure on the car computer board, resulting in the loss of rearview camera functionality,” Tesla said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing. Continue reading →

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Tesla Recall for Bad Airbags and Windshields

Posted on 6 January 2025 by Ken Zino

Tesla is recalling some 2024-2025 Model S and Model X vehicles for failure to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, “Occupant Crash Protection” and 212, “Windshield Mounting.” The driver’s air bag could tear during deployment, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading →

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