Category Archives: quality

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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Ford Motor Battery Fire Recalls – Escape and Corsair Hybrids

Posted on 6 January 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor (NYSE: F) is recalling 20,484 Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs from model years 2020 to 2024 because of defective batteries, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high-voltage battery cells used in the compact hybrid vehicles may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure. The supplier is Samsung SDI Hungary. Ford has  been aware of the safety defect since September of 2024.* The high voltage cell’s separator layer between its cathode and anode may be susceptible to damage as a result of the cell manufacturing process. Separator damage may result in a cell internal short circuit leading to sudden power loss and battery fires. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen ID.4 Stop Sale Lifted After Recall

Posted on 3 January 2025 by Ken Zino

The long-delayed availability of new parts once again allows existing vehicles in dealer stock to be sold. Assembly of ID.4 will resume in Volkswagen’s Chattanooga, TN, factory in the coming weeks. “Owners have been advised that the affected parts can be replaced,” Volkswagen said. Year-over-Year, ID.4 sales at ~17,000 during 2024 dropped -55%. Continue reading →

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Kia Recalls 2024-2025 model year EV9s

Posted on 30 December 2024 by Ken Zino

“Seats with missing seat mounting bolts may not properly restrain an occupant during certain collisions, thereby increasing the risk of injury,” Kia told NHTSA. “Missing seat mounting bolts are due to plant assembly worker error.” Continue reading →

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Another Ford F-150 Safety Recall – Steering Loss

Posted on 30 December 2024 by Ken Zino

The driver may experience vehicle vibration and hear a clunk or rattle noise during suspension compression and extension. Continue reading →

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Kenworth, Peterbuilt ABS Software Recall

Posted on 16 December 2024 by Ken Zino

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling ~221,000 Peterbilt and Kenworth buses, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles equipped with Bendix EC80 Advanced Electronic Control Units (ECU) according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“According to Bendix in its recall 24E-086, the ABS, Automatic Traction Control (ATC), or Electronic Stability Control (ESC) may set an ABS fault or may stop operating. Other functions which strongly interact with ABS such as Active Cruse Control (ACC) and Collision Mitigation System (CMS) may also fault. In extremely rare situations before the system faults or stops operating, if there is a stability event or an automated braking request, the system may respond incorrectly to the event. This may increase the likelihood of a crash,” PACCAR said in the required safety defect filing. Continue reading →

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Steering Loss – Toyota Recalls Corolla and Corolla Hybrids

Posted on 2 December 2024 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 8057 model year 2023-2024 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid vehicles for the loss of steering control, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Due to cracks developed during the manufacturing process, the steering intermediate shaft assembly may fracture and possibly result in the shaft detaching from the steering column,” Toyota told NHTSA in the required safety defect recall filing. Continue reading →

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Recalls – Hyundai Motor America Backup Cameras

Posted on 2 December 2024 by Ken Zino

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 226,118 model year 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV and 2022 Elantra N and Santa Fe PHEV vehicles, according to the required safety defect filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Due to a damaged printed circuit board, the rearview camera image may fail to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, Rear Visibility,” Hyundai told NHTSA. Continue reading →

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Mercedes-Benz USA Recall – Sunroofs Flying Off

Posted on 2 December 2024 by Ken Zino

Mercedes-Benz USA is recalling 33,456 model year 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles because the glass sunroof panel from Webasto Roof & Components may not be properly secured and can detach, according to the required safety defect filing made public this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading →

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Genesis, Hyundai, Kia recalls for Sudden Power Loss

Posted on 25 November 2024 by Ken Zino

Hyundai Motor is recalling Genesis, Hyundai and Kia models from the 2022 though 2025 models years because of sudden power loss. Warning symptoms may occur during “fail-safe” mode driving over period of ~20-40 minutes through various illumination of dashboard MIL; an audible chime; warning messages displayed in vehicle information display(s); and noticeable degradation in vehicle motive power or speed.

In the required filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it said “the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) may become damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery, which can result in a loss of drive power.” The vehicle’s “fail-safe” mode will trigger upon detection of a fault associated with over-voltage induced at the start and end of the vehicle’s battery charging cycle or thermal loading during charging/driving. Continue reading →

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DOJ – Cruise Deferred Prosecution for Pedestrian Crash

Posted on 19 November 2024 by Ken Zino

GM’s Cruise autonomous vehicle company* based in San Francisco, fixed a criminal charge in federal court for providing a false record to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with the intent to impede, obstruct, or influence the investigation of a crash involving one of Cruise’s autonomous vehicles. Cruise has agreed to resolve the charge through a deferred prosecution agreement and payment of a $500,000 criminal fine.

“Federal laws and regulations are in place to protect public safety on our roads. Companies with self-driving cars that seek to share our roads and crosswalks must be fully truthful in their reports to their regulators,” said Martha Boersch, Chief of the Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Fines Ford $165M for Flouting Recall Law

Posted on 14 November 2024 by Ken Zino

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today announced a consent order with Ford Motor Company for failing to comply with federal recall requirements. The consent order includes a civil penalty of $165 million, the second-largest civil penalty in NHTSA’s history after the Takata airbag fiasco and the Takata airbag consent order.

“Timely and accurate recalls are critical to keeping everyone safe on our roads,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said. “NHTSA is committed to ensuring manufacturers comply with the laws designed to keep our roads safe. When manufacturers fail to prioritize the safety of the American public and meet their obligations under federal law, NHTSA will hold them accountable.” Continue reading →

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GM Recall for Wheel Lockup on Diesel Pickups and SUVs

Posted on 13 November 2024 by Ken Zino

General Motors (NYSE: GM) is recalling ~462,000 pickup trucks and large SUVs with diesel engines because the rear wheels can lock, increasing the risk of a crash, according to a required recall report made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The huge U.S. safety defect recall covers 2020-2022 model year Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups, as well as the 2021 Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban.

“A transmission control valve in some of these vehicles may be susceptible to excess wear over time, resulting in a gradual loss of pressure within the valve that can cause harsh shifting. In rare cases, the rear wheels may experience a momentary lock up,” GM said in the mandatory filing. “Excessive wear within the transmission control valve body can cause a fluid leak leading to a pressure drop that causes certain valves to move unexpectedly,” GM said. Continue reading →

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VW Ensnared in More Takata Airbag Shrapnel Recalls

Posted on 11 November 2024 by Ken Zino

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 2017-2019 model year Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Volkswagen had been refusing to recall the inflators arguing since 2020 about NHTSA’s interpretation of Takata defect data.*

“The driver’s side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling,” VW said in the required safety defect recall filing. Volkswagens included in this recall are equipped with the Takata SDI-D driver frontal airbag. “An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death,” VW acknowledged. Continue reading →

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