Category Archives: recalls

NHTSA Issues Park Outside Consumer Alert for Jeep Fires

Posted on 2 October 2024 by Ken Zino

Owners should park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles until their vehicle has been remedied. In addition, owners should not charge unrepaired vehicles, because the risk of fire is higher in a charged battery and the risk of fire is reduced when the battery is depleted. Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, engineering, manufacturing, news analysis, public health, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Plug-in Hybrid Jeeps Recalled for Battery Fire Risks

Posted on 1 October 2024 by Ken Zino

“A routine company review of customer data led to an internal investigation that discovered 13 fires. All vehicles were parked and turned off. The company estimates 5% of affected vehicles may have the defect,” FCA said. “Vehicle risk is reduced when the battery charge level is depleted. Accordingly, owners are advised to refrain from recharging. Out of an abundance of caution, the company is also advising owners of these vehicles to park away from structures or other vehicles until the remedy is obtained.” Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mercedes-Benz USA Software Recall for Sudden Stalling

Posted on 30 September 2024 by Ken Zino

“In the event of an independent hardware failure in the Camtronic system, the amount of injected fuel might be erroneously increased by the lambda control system during cylinder deactivation. As a result, exhaust temperatures may increase and might damage surrounding components (e.g. engine wiring harness, catalytic converter). A loss of propulsion without warning and an increased risk of fire cannot be ruled out.” Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, engineering, news analysis, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mazda Recalls 2016 – 2023 Miata Sports Cars for Bad Airbags

Posted on 30 September 2024 by Ken Zino

Mazda North American Operations is recalling 2016-2023 MX-5 Miata sports cars built in Japan. A software error in the Robert Bosch  supplied air bag control module may cause the front air bags to deploy with excessive force during a crash. Mazda has been aware of the problem for more than a year.

In the required safety defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today, Mazda said as of 11 September 2024, it is not aware of any reports of accidents or injuries related to this safety defect. Also, as of this date, no field reports have been received by the United States or Territory markets. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Recalls 450,000 Vehicles for Brake Control Software Failure

Posted on 20 September 2024 by Ken Zino

General Motors is recalling 449,671 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Escalade ESV vehicles. The electronic brake control module software may fail to display a warning light when a loss of brake fluid occurs. These vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, “Light Vehicle Brake Systems.” The recall safety defect is caused by a mismatch between the electronic brake control module (eBCM) software and eBCM calibrations.

“A driver may not receive an indicator of a loss of brake fluid before the level is below FMVSS 135’s requirement. In the event of a brake fluid leak, the vehicle’s brake pedal performance may degrade before the BRAKE telltale timely illuminates in accordance with FMVSS 135, increasing the risk of a crash. In the event of a brake fluid leak, affected vehicles still meet FMVSS 135’s stopping-distance requirements,” GM said in the required NHTSA filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety, software defined vehicles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Software Recall on 2024 Porsche Taycans

Posted on 16 September 2024 by Ken Zino

Porsche Cars North America is recalling 2024 Taycan vehicles. The incorrect headlight control module software may have been installed, according to documents release this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As such, these 2024 Taycans fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”

The supplier- ZKW Lichtsysteme in Austria – erroneously adopted the ECE-compliant lighting behavior in the data set. Due to this programming error, affected vehicles were equipped with headlight control module software intended for the EU market that does not comply Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, manufacturing, news analysis, recalls, safety, software defined vehicles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mazda Software Recall on Forward Sensing Camera

Posted on 16 September 2024 by Ken Zino

Mazda North American Operations is recalling 2024 Mazda 3, CX-30, and 2025 CX-50 vehicles. A software malfunction in the forward sensing camera may prevent the automatic emergency braking system and the lane-keep assist system from functioning.

In addition, the headlights will not automatically adjust from high beams to low beams as intended, according to documents released this morning by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recalled Mazda models were built at Mazda de Mexico Vehicle Operation. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, manufacturing, news analysis, recalls, safety, software defined vehicles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volkswagen Group Recalls 2021-2024 ID.4 Models

Posted on 10 September 2024 by Ken Zino

The affected vehicles may have been built with door handles that do not meet the factory specifications for protection against water ingress. Water ingress into the printed circuit board can lead to malfunctions causing an “open command” – signaling an open command by the door handle when the handle is not being activated by a person. An open door on a moving vehicle puts occupants at risk of injury, and can cause damage to objects and people who may be outside of the vehicle. If the recall problem is present in the vehicle, occupants may notice an audible clicking noise , similar to the sound of a vehicle door being locked/unlocked by the key fob. The planned recall remedy and series production countermeasures are still under development. It is not corrected yet in production. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, engineering, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Various Ford and Lincoln Recalls for Sudden Engine Failures

Posted on 2 September 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling  2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with either a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine. The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a sudden loss of drive power.

Based on an analysis of returned fractured valves from failed engines, Ford identified that the potential root cause of the failures was engine intake valve failure due to valves that exceeded the designed specification for hardness, were brittle, and more likely to fracture. Ford determined that this was due to the supplier’s grinding processes and the sensitivity of the intake valve material to grinding processes that were not within control specifications. The intake valve material was changed for vehicles produced after 31 October 2021. The new material increased the valve’s robustness to keeper groove grinding processes outside of control specifications. Continue reading →

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

MINI Cooper SE 2 Doors Recalled for Battery Fires

Posted on 26 August 2024 by Ken Zino

BMW of North America is recalling 2020-2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Cooper SE vehicles. Faults may occur in the high voltage battery or high voltage system, resulting in a short circuit, according to recall documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“This may lead to an overheating of the high voltage battery and, in rare cases a thermal event [fire] even when the vehicle is not in operation,” BMW said in the required safety defect recall filing. Continue reading →

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

BMW Fire Recalls on More Than 720,000 Vehicles

Posted on 26 August 2024 by Ken Zino

BMW of North America, LLC. is recalling 720,796 vehicles because of an electrical system safety defect that can cause fires. Pierburg Pump Technology GmbH made the defective water pump that leaks.

“The recalled vehicles have been manufactured with a water pump that, due to insufficient sealing, could, over time, be susceptible to fluid ingress at the electrical plug connector, according to documents made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading →

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

Six New Ford Motor Recalls on Various Safety Defects

Posted on 19 August 2024 by Ken Zino

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released today information about six more Ford Motor Company safety defect recalls covering a vast array of design, engineering, manufacturing and software defects.

Problems, some of them life threatening, include power windows, engine fires, windshield wipers, failing rear suspension knuckles, loss of steering, and body as well as powertrain control modules. NHTSA Campaign Numbers include: 24V590, 24V591, 24V593, 24V594, 24V597, 24V598. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, news analysis, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Recalls Cadillac LYRIQ AWD EVs

Posted on 19 August 2024 by Ken Zino

According to documents made public this morning in the required safety recall information filing, “In rare circumstances, during certain braking events on dry surfaces at speeds below 25 mph, the vehicle may exhibit overly sensitive anti-lock braking system (ABS) control. In these conditions, if ABS falsely activates and a specific sequence of wheel movements occurs, the vehicle’s ABS system will continue to release the braking pressure in the vehicle’s service brake system. A release of braking pressure can cause the service brakes to have reduced stopping performance or become inoperative, increasing the risk of a crash.” GM said it is not aware of any injuries or fatalities associated with this condition. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, quality, recalls, software defined vehicles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Takata Flack II – Mazda Issues Do Not Drive Alert

Posted on 13 August 2024 by Ken Zino

Mazda North American Operations today issued an urgent “Do Not Drive” warning about its vehicles equipped with non-desiccated Takata air bags that were recalled, buts still are unrepaired.  NHTSA made the documents public. Mazda apparently did not bother to alert media outlets about this life threatening safety defect. Ford Motor to its credit did. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, engineering, litigation, news analysis, public health, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More Takata Flack – Ford Issues Do-Not-Drive Advisory

Posted on 13 August 2024 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor today issued a “do-not-drive advisory for owners of vehicles who have not yet had their vehicles repaired under three past Takata airbag safety recalls. These previously announced recalls are Ford recalls 15S21, 17S42, and 19S01. The first issued in 2015, involve several vehicle lines equipped with Takata non-desiccated airbag inflators. This do-not-drive advisory is the second Takata related do-not-drive recall advisory issued by Ford and it is intended to encourage owners to complete the recall repairs immediately. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, engineering, litigation, manufacturing, news analysis, public health, quality, recalls | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment