RECALLS

Got a Recall? There’s an App for That.

August 31, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Consumers have heard plenty these past few years about automotive recalls, especially those involving airbags supplied by Takata. Tens of millions of cars are currently affected by airbags that may release dangerous projectiles on deployment.

But the Takata mess is just the tip of a recall iceberg involving vehicles, car seats, tires, and other equipment. With as many as thousands of parts and accessories present in many modern vehicles, something is bound to go wrong. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tracks this information and now supplies a tool to help vehicle owners stay on top of it all.

That tool is none other than a new SaferCar app that’s easily downloadable to most any cell phone. So, why this app? Because as important as it is to stay on top of recalls, many are going unheeded. Notably, the NHTSA says that one in four vehicles currently in use has a safety recall. That’s a risk to the driver, passengers, other vehicles, and pedestrians, and is something that can and should be tracked and fixed as soon as possible.

How well does this app work? Well, we headed to the Apple App Store (Google Play Store for Android) and downloaded a copy to our iPhone and found the process straightforward. Once downloaded, you’ll be prompted to respond to a request to expedite notifications. If you “allow” notifications, then you may receive alerts, sounds, and icon badges for notifying a recall. You can control these requests in your cell phone’s settings.

Registering your vehicle is as easy as identifying it by its make, model, and year. You may find various versions of your vehicle listed, depending on the body style and drivetrain. Choose the one that most accurately describes your vehicle.

The app makes it easy to identify your vehicle. To help the app “understand” what you own, either scan or input the 17 alphanumeric sequence that represents your ride. I would love to say it scanned mine, but it did not. Instead, I took a photo of the VIN and then inputted the information to the app. The easiest way, of course, would have been to simply add that sequence while standing in front of the VIN.

Once the app has your information, it’ll issue you an update for your car. Mine returned the following statement: “This vehicle has no unrepaired recalls.”

What’s especially helpful about the app is what it can do. You can enter as many vehicles you like, thereby setting up your “virtual garage” for tracking those details. Besides your vehicles, there’s room to add tire, car seat, and information about the many accessories you may have. If there is a recall notification for anything listed, it will appear. Importantly, the NHTSA issues prompt notifications once it publishes its findings. This means that allowing notifications may be the best way to go. Otherwise, you’ll need to check your app regularly for updates.

What the app cannot do is arrange a recall fix. Instead, once you discover your vehicle is under recall, reach out to your local dealer’s repair shop for guidance. If a part must be replaced, the shop will tell you whether it is in stock or not. Moreover, you’ll need to make an appointment to have the recall handled.

The good news about a recall, is that they’re typically covered by the manufacturer. This means the repairs are made at the dealership level and the dealer bills the manufacturer. The same goes for recalls covering tires, car seats, and vehicle accessories. If you’re not sure a cost is involved, just ask.

We haven’t used the app much since its launch. There are bound to be some bugs present early on, so expect updates along the way. With this in mind, respond accordingly to keep the app current to ensure all recall notifications are delivered immediately.

Photo copyright NHTSA.

The Recent, Worrisome Spike of Software-Based Defects in Vehicles

February 10, 2020 by Cole McKeon Leave a Comment

More and more technology is being integrated into vehicles in today’s world. Much of this technology is complex, leading to significant problems, as seen in the skyrocketing number of software-related vehicle recalls in the past few years. These problems were especially pronounced in 2018, which was a record year for software-based defects in vehicles.

The new Stout Automotive Defect and Recall Report, released in late 2019, suggests the increase in software-based electronic defects was “the most significant trend of 2018.” The report also reveals that 2018 had a record-breaking number of vehicle recalls based on software defects, for a total of 8 million–a higher total than the five previous years combined. 2018 also saw electronic defects accounting for the largest percentage of vehicles recalled, which was 26-percent or 6.3 million of all vehicle recalls.

How Stout defines software problems

Stout looked at a variety of sources, including National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall data, Part 573 letters, quarterly completion reports and Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs). They’ve compiled the data from those sources and divided it into four digestible groups. The first three groups have defined the data based on a common failure/defect, while the last group, where the failure/defect could not be pinpointed precisely, is defined by its remedy.

1. Integrated Electronic Components (IECs): Failures involving electrical components that failed because of physical defect–from water intrusion to wiring failure.

2. Software Integration: Failures that occur because the software fails to properly interface with a vehicle’s components or systems.

3. Software Defect: Failures relating to a defect in the operating software.

4. Software Remedy: Failures where a software defect has not been found, but a software flash or replacement has remedied the failure.

2018: The worst year for software-based recalls

Software-based problems–of which software integration, software defects, and software remedy categories are all a part–increased for the second year in a row. One recall, in particular, was responsible for this increase, namely, the FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) vehicle speed control system recall involving 4.8 million vehicles.

According to Stout’s data, software-based defects/recalls have skyrocketed and, conversely, IECs–which aren’t caused or fixed by software–have plummeted. The report expects this inverse relationship to continue, as it anticipates software-based systems and components will dominate the car market. Software remedies will become more commonplace than traditional methods of delivery.

Overall, the number of vehicles recalled in 2018 due to software issues (8 million) was three times greater than the vehicles recalled in any other previous year. This figure also involved about one-third of all the vehicles that were part of non-Takata recalls for the year. The Takata airbag recall was the biggest safety recall in American history, according to the NHTSA.

When Software Defects Are Likeliest to Occur (Emergence Patterns)

In general, software-based defects occur within the first two years of a vehicle’s life, while non-software issues appear later and can be a potential risk throughout a vehicle’s life. This happens because software issues are more likely to be present from the start of a vehicle’s life. Conversely, non-software issues may emerge only after physical components are exposed to wear and tear or environmental exposure.

Since software integration is relatively new, this emergence pattern is subject to change, as consulting firms like Stout continue to monitor the data in coming years.

The Remedy Procedures in Detail

Stout looked at 10 years of data involving the narrative remedy descriptions for every electronic component recall to make the following findings.

Remedy Procedures

Depending on the issue, the remedies for IEC component defects may vary greatly from remedies used for software-based defects:

IEC repairs are performed at dealerships, while remedies for software-based components can be delivered remotely.
Costs for IECs are determined by the cost of materials, retail mark-ups, handling costs, labor and the number of vehicles involved, while costs for software remedies are dictated by the cost of developing a remedy for the software issue.

IEC remedy procedures involve the traditional process of inspection, repair or replacement of failed components, and software-based component defects could be remedied with the replacement of a component, but may also be fixed with an update to the software associated with the defective component.

Remedy Time

Software-based remedies are more standardized than IECs. For that reason, the Stout report has designated a general timeframe of 0.2 to 2 hours–with an average time of 0.6 hours–as the remedy time for software-based defects.

Non-software-related defects are less standardized, as they vary based on static factors such as the nature of the defect and location of the component. The Stout report listed average remedy times for various component defects, including airbags (0.8 hours) and engine & engine cooling (1.1 hours).

Remedy Delivery

Most software-related defects still require taking the traditional route of traveling to a dealership to meet with a technician. However, with software remedies, more options for delivery exist, including:

1. USB Flash Drives

These remedies are delivered via removable media, either sent to the vehicle owner on a USB flash drive or available for a vehicle owner to download onto their own removable media drive.

2. Over-the-Air Remedies

These remedies are delivered to vehicles via wireless transmission.

The Final Takeaways

If the findings of the Stout report hold true, an increase in software-based defects/recalls and a decrease in non-software problems will continue to trend in the future. This trend can be analyzed through Stout’s method of grouping the IEC, software integration, software defects and software remedies in separate categories.

By looking at this data, Stout determined that, in 2018, the number of software-related defects (software integration, defects and remedies) climbed astronomically, while the number of IECs dropped dramatically.

Stout’s data also reveals that software-related defects are often found within the first two years of the life of the vehicle, while non-software-related defects can be exposed much later on in a vehicle’s life. The remedy process for software-based component defects is generally more streamlined than the remedy procedure for IECs: By the use of removable storage devices and Wi-Fi, a trip to the dealership may not even be required.

Photo supplied by Free Images.

How to Avoid an Unsafe Rental Car

August 5, 2015 by admin 2 Comments

Millions upon millions of cars are recalled every month, a staggering number that should give consumers reason for concern. What some may not realize is that recalls are not always handled in a timely fashion, especially with rental cars.

Unfixed Recalled Cars and Car Rentals

Although rental car companies may eventually comply with the recalls, that doesn’t mean the affected models have been repaired. Furthermore, there are no laws stipulating that unfixed recalled cars cannot be rented. Here’s what you can do to ensure that your next car is safety compliant.

1. Ask the rental car company. When planning to rent a car, contact the rental car company’s customer service department. Ask the company what their procedures are regarding recall repairs. You may learn that the cars are repaired as soon as possible. You may also learn that cars under recall are still available for renting. Decide whether you are willing to assume the risk of renting a car that may not be suitable to drive.

2. Check the VIN. If you are wondering whether a specific car has been recalled, you can learn whether this is so almost immediately. Locate the VIN (vehicle identification number), typically found in the dashboard on the driver’s side. Visit Safercar.gov and plug in that 17-digit alphanumeric code. You will quickly learn if the car is subject to recalls and what recalls remain open. If a major recall is open and you don’t want to drive the car, notify the rental company of your discovery. Ask for a car that has had its recalls completed.

Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act of 2015.

Possible Legislation: Safe Rental Car Act

In 2013, legislation was introduced in Congress, dubbed the Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act. The act was named for two sisters who rented a 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser from Enterprise Rent-a-Car in San Francisco in 2004.

That particular vehicle was under recall, as Daimler Chrysler found that the power steering hose could leak, causing a fire. Raechel Houck was driving the car on Highway 101 near Bradley, California, when she lost steering ability due to power steering fluid leak. The car crossed a grass median and slammed into an 18-wheeler, bursting into flames. The sisters were incinerated.

As a result of the Houck accident and the battle the parents had with Enterprise, legislators are pushing to require rental car companies to complete all recalls before the vehicles are available in the rental fleet. After initial resistance, the rental car industry is now backing the legislation.

Rental Industry Supports Legislation

Indeed, the American Rental Car Association (ACRA) agrees that all rental cars should be safe to drive. Said Sharon Faulkner, executive director of ACRA, “the end result is a proposal that will provide our customers additional assurance that the vehicles they rent are safe, and provides our industry with a uniform federal standard across the country and that addresses our original operational concerns.”

The Houck bill was finally referred to the committee on May 1, 2015, but its prognosis is not particularly good. The GovTrack.us website gives HR 2198 only an 18 percent chance of being enacted.

Besides not being able to rent open recall cars to customers, the legislation would also forbid rental companies from turning around and selling these vehicles to the public until the repairs have been completed or at least with notice that the repairs are open.

Used Car Shopping

If you are in the market for a used car, you need to do your homework to ensure that all recalls have been complied with. Again, that means making a visit to SaferCar.gov. It should also include obtaining the vehicle’s history report (CARFAX, for example) and following through with an inspection by your mechanic. (Here is an excellent article that details the limits and sometimes the pitfalls with vehicle history reports — Limitations and Problems with Carfax or any Vehicle History Report).

See Also:

Car Recalls and Your Insurance Rates

8 Reasons to Avoid a Particular Used Car

Takata Recalls to Pace Yet Another Record Year

May 21, 2015 by admin 3 Comments

With tens of millions of vehicles under recall for replacement airbags, other recalls may get buried. Millions of other models are also under recall for an assortment of mechanical and software problems.

Takata is in the process of working with 11 car manufacturers to recall 33.8 million vehicles in the United States, representing nearly 1 in 7 registered vehicles. That staggering number will most likely push this year’s recalls above the 60 million vehicles recalled last year, a record.

As important as the Takata airbag recall is, there are a number of other recalls that have been recently announced or are currently in progress. Thus, Auto Trends is presenting a sampling of some of the more noteworthy recalls for 2015:

Lincoln MKZ

The Lincoln MKZ & Ford Fusion are under a recall.

Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ — Certain 2013, 2014 and 2015 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ models manufactured earlier this year and Ford Edge models manufactured in late February are being recalled. Ford says that more than 487,000 models may have a steering problem affected by corrosion that could cause the steering gear motor to separate from the gear housing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Kia Soul — Owners of certain 2014 and 2015 Kia Souls and Soul EVs should have their vehicles checked for potential gas pedal breakage. About one dozen pedals have fractured, leading Kia to recall nearly 209,000 vehicles to install rubber supports underneath the pedal.

Volkswagen Jetta — At the beginning of the year, Volkswagen announced a recall involving approximately 50,000 2015 Jetta vehicles. The recall addresses a potential problem involving the halogen headlights. Specifically, software within the control module may shut down the low-beam headlights when the high beams are activated. The problem could affect the driver’s vision, leading to a crash.

GMC Canyon Recall

Under Recall: GMC Canyon

Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon — Owners of certain 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon trucks are being alerted to a problem affecting the driver’s and front passenger seat. Nearly 50,000 vehicles are being recalled to inspect the seat-frame attachment hooks to ensure that they are secured properly. If not anchored properly, the affected parts will be replaced.

Hyundai Elantra — More than 200,000 Hyundai Elantra sedans covering the 2008 to 2010 model years and Elantra Touring hatchbacks for the 2009 and 2010 model years are being recalled. Hyundai has identified a flaw in the vehicles’ electronic power steering system, what could affect steering performance. In essence, the affected models may perform in manual steering mode, requiring greater driver effort. No accidents have been reported related to this problem.

Toyota Camry recall.

Select Camry & Camry Hybrid models are being recalled.

Toyota RAV4 and Other Models — More than 112,000 Toyota vehicles are being recalled to address various problems. The RAV4 EV may have a software issue that could cause these vehicles to shift into neutral, increasing the risk of a crash. Other vehicles, including select 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may have damaged electric power steering circuit boards.

Chrysler Minivans, Dodge Journey — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is recalling more than 700,000 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 model years. They are also recalling 2009 and 2010 Dodge Journey utility vehicles. The issue for these vehicles has to do with the ignition key — what could shut the car off under certain conditions. As part of that recall, FCA is urging owners to remove extra keys from the key rings to prevent the vehicles from accidentally turning off, leading to a loss of control.

Recalls and Procedures

If your vehicle has been mentioned in any of the above-listed recalls, contact your dealer to have it repaired. For everyone else, you can check whether your vehicle is under recall by first writing down your vehicle identification number (VIN) found on the dashboard. It also appears on your registration card.

Next, visit the NHTSA’s Safercar.gov website. Specifically, click here to be taken to a page where you can enter your VIN to find out if your vehicle has been recalled. The website covers recalls conducted over the past 15 calendar years.

Recalls Look-up by VIN
Following that, contact any dealer for your manufacturer to schedule an appointment. The manufacturer will pay for repairs. You should also ask your dealer or the car manufacturer for a loaner vehicle as you wait for repairs to be completed.

Notably, signing up immediately for recall service will ensure that your name is on the list. When the parts become available, you will be notified. Finally, if your car is currently “in the clear” check back again periodically. When tens of millions of cars currently under recall, your vehicle may eventually find be listed.

Happy Memorial Day! Except for the Stop-Sale Orders.

May 22, 2014 by admin 2 Comments

Stop Sale: No 2015 Cadillac Escalades can be sold until further notice.

The Memorial Day weekend is fast approaching. It is the unofficial start of the summer season and that means people will be taking to the road in greater numbers over the next few days.

That also means many consumers will be looking at their current drives and will want to make a change. After all, if your utility vehicle has seen better days, there are a plethora of new crossovers on dealer lots ready to be snapped up.

Unless you sell GM products.

Cadillac Escalade Recall

Yes, this weekend customers flocking to Cadillac dealer lots in search of the just released 2015 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV are in for a rude awakening — GM told Cadillac dealers not to sell these vehicles. Moreover, the company sent overnight letters to the 224 customers already in possession of these vehicles and instructed them not to allow passengers to sit in the front seat until the vehicle has been serviced.

At issue is a passenger airbag module attached to a chute glued to the backside of the instrument panel. GM has learned that the infrared weld used to adhere the part was not sufficiently heated. The supplier has since corrected the problem, but there is a matter of fixing those models now sitting on dealer lots. Take a nice look at them, place your order, but you will need to wait a bit to take delivery.

The Chevrolet Traverse is one of three crossovers under recall.

Three Crossovers Affected

Cadillac dealers won’t be the only ones faced with disappointed customers this week. Three large crossover utility models are also being recalled: the GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave and the Chevrolet Traverse.

In a press announcement covering the three affected models (plus all 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook models), GM said that the “…front safety lap belt cables can fatigue and separate over time. In a crash, a separated cable could increase the risk of injury to front seat passengers.” The recall spans six model years beginning in 2009 and continuing through the current 2014 model year.

Car dealers will most certainly look for ways to take orders this holiday weekend. Indeed, many dealerships already have long-planned sales in place and are expecting a rush in shoppers. What they won’t be able to do is allow customers to test drive certain models. However, if they do make sales this weekend, dealers can provide loaner vehicles for models unaffected by the recall.

Ratcheting Up the Recalls

The latest batch of GM recalls number 2.42 million units. A week earlier GM announced recalls covering 2.7 million vehicles in the United States including 2,440,524 previous generation Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles, the Pontiac G6 and the Saturn Aura. GM said that the brake lamp wiring harnesses in the affected models will need to be replaced to prevent taillamp malfunctions.

Other recalls made in recent months have included fixing power steering problems in more than 1.3 million vehicles, reworking the instrument panel in more than 300,000 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans, and repairing the wiring harness in 1.18 million Buick, GMC, Chevrolet and Saturn models.

The Chevy Cobalt was subject to an earlier recall this year.

Millions Upon Millions Recalled

GM has issued 30 recalls involving 13.8 million cars this year, breaking its previous yearly record reports CBS News. That total is about five times the number of new vehicles sold by GM in the US each year and includes many models that have been discontinued from brands that have been shuttered. Driving the recall surge are lawsuits, government pressure and consumer dismay, especially over an ignition switch problem that was ignored by GM and has led to at least 13 deaths.

Recalls: GM Sets the Narrative

March 19, 2014 by admin 1 Comment

General Motors earlier this week announced a fresh series of recalls, going well beyond an earlier initiative to replace the ignition switch for select Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Ion, and four other models. On Monday, GM announced three separate recalls for more than 1.5 million vehicles and also took a $300 million charge off to pay for the repairs.

CEO Video Announcement

The move surprised some analysts, including those still attempting to decipher the scope of the previous ignition switch recall announcement, a defect that has taken 12 lives. The most recent recalls were announced by GMs CEO, Mary Barra, in a video posted to the company’s website on Monday as well as in a statement to the press.

Though potentially damaging to the brand, GMs move allowed the automaker to set the narrative, avoiding what most certainly would have been a brutal dressing down by the media. Instead, Barra explained that the recalls followed a request for a comprehensive internal safety review, in response to the earlier recall.

GM Share Prices

In pushing these problems out to the light quickly, GM is one step closer to putting everything behind it. The financial write down gives the automaker credibility that they’re on top of the recalls, offering comfort to vehicle owners and shareholders alike. GM stock is selling for above $35 a share, up from $34 when the latest recall announcement was made, but down from its most recent high of $37.75 reached earlier this month.

The three separate recalls involve vehicles across GMs current brand structure as well as one model from retired Saturn.

Three Separate Recalls

The first recall involves 303,000 units of the 2009 to 2014 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans with a gross vehicle weight of under 10,000 pounds. Affected vans do not comply with head impact requirements for unrestrained occupants, requiring a rework of the instrument panel.

The second recall covers 63,900 units of its large 2013 and 2014 Cadillac XTS sedan. That model may experience engine fires if a brake booster pump issue is not resolved. To date, two unsold XTS models have experienced fires and two component meltdowns have been reported.

The third recall is the most comprehensive one and includes some 2008 and 2009, and all 2010 to 2013 GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave models, some 2009 and all 2010 to 2013 Chevrolet Traverse models, and all 2010 Saturn Outlook models. With this recall, a wiring harness for seat mounted side air bags must be replaced. Nearly 1.2 million crossovers are affected.

Response and Recall

In her video announcement, Barra stressed that the company wants to be judged today by the actions it takes to respond to problems by addressing customer concerns. The automaker has dedicated 50 people at its Warren, Mich., customer service facility to handle recall notices. Barra noted that notices for the ignition recall have already gone out with replacement parts becoming available by the second week of April. Recall announcements for the other affected vehicles are being readied as of press time.

Barra confirmed that two separate Congressional committees are looking at the ignition switch recall and noted that the U.S. Department of Justice has also launched an investigation.

In each case we have pledged to cooperate fully while we work to make the recall itself as smooth as possible for our customers, said Barra. She added, These are serious developments that shouldn’t surprise anyone. After all, something went wrong with our process in this instance and terrible things happened.

Making a Personal Connection

Barra noted her own responsibility as GMs CEO and her being a mother, demonstrating how the problems have hit home for her. The company has apologized and made assurances that the problem does not happen again.

By responding proactively, GM demonstrates that will be on top of its problems. More importantly, the video address tells people, we care. That is the takeaway that allows GM to set the narrative.

Other News: — Cars and Coffee Raleigh Holds First Meet

Video quotes from General Motors.

Fighting Back: Chrysler v. NHTSA

June 6, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

Forget the rest of the automotive news you have been hearing this week. Chrysler’s rejection of the NHTSA’s request to recall 2.7 million Jeep vehicles is big news. It is so big that Chrysler risks sullying its image if it is sued by the NHTSA yet still manages to win the not-yet-filed lawsuit.

Problem Jeep Models

Chrysler contends that the NHTSA’s request to have 1993 to 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002 to 2007 Jeep Liberty models recalled is an over reach by the federal government. Specifically, the NHTSA wants Chrysler to make repairs to vehicles that may cost the automaker at least $500 million to fix, a huge amount for a company that is preparing to merge with Fiat.

It is also a company that was saved by American taxpayers though a 2009 bail out that essentially awarded the Chrysler Group to Fiat. Approximately $1.3 billion was never recovered to save America’s third largest automaker now controlled by a foreign manufacturer.

The point of recall contention is the location of the fuel tank in the two Jeep models. The Center for Auto Safety, founded by consumer activist Ralph Nader, has been pushing for a recall for years. CAS contends that a safety issue is present, one that has led to 246 fatal fire crashes with 350 deaths. In a June 4 notice posted to its website, CAS stated that Chrysler must install a 3 millimeter steel skid, a new fuel tank valve and an improved fuel filler hose to retrofit each model to acceptable safety levels. It puts that cost to Chrysler at $300 million.

Chrysler Fights NHTSA

Chrysler, however, is not seeing things the same way as CAS or the NHTSA. The company insists that the rear-mounted fuel tanks were government approved when designed and met the safety standards of that time. Essentially, Chrysler is being asked to bring old vehicles up to current safety standards, requirements that were not in place when those vehicles were built. Said Chrysler, “The subject vehicles are safe and are not defective.”

By rejecting NHTSA’s recall request, Chrysler is taking a stand that other car manufacturers will be watching very closely. The company understands that it risks losing in the court of public opinion, but it also knows that a precedent would be set if it caves in. After all, if its vehicles met government safety standards when they were built, what would stop regulators from ordering further recalls on other older vehicles that also fall short of current standards that were not in place earlier? And let’s not kid ourselves here: other industries would be similarly affected by such a precedent. Open Pandora’s box, anyone?

The Right Thing

CAS is not letting this matter go and has said that it has asked Fiat and Chrysler five times to recall and fix the Jeeps, but has received no response. It said, “The CEOs appear more willing to watch children die in child seats than to do the right thing – recall these Jeeps.” Such is the emotional appeal for its argument.

What Chrysler is not doing is claiming that the vehicles were built under the old Chrysler entity and are not the current company’s responsibility. The federal government saw to it that the new Chrysler assumed the old Chrysler’s liabilities, warts and all.

Court of Public Opinion

As the NHTSA considers what to do next, the court of public opinion is now in session. And those opinions vary widely: ranging from people insisting that Chrysler comply with the NHTSA and issue a recall to those who want the automaker to hold its ground. Chrysler is gambling that its unusual defiance of the NHTSA will play well before the public. Perhaps Chrysler senses that Americans are in no mood for government interference, especially as another government agency, the IRS, is embroiled in multiple scandals of its own doing.

Chrysler’s NHTSA gamble will have far-reaching consequences regardless of how it plays out. If you thought that the summer news cycle for the auto industry is typically a slow one, then you are right. But, not this summer.

Toyota, Ford Pace 2012 Manufacturer Recalls

January 25, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing and the Ford Motor Company both had the dubious distinction of leading all car manufacturers in the number of recalls in 2012. Toyotas 12 recalls affected 5,330,643 vehicles or nearly 2 million more than second-place Honda. Ford led in the number of recall cycles, 24, affecting 1,398,837 vehicles. As usual, the big volume manufacturers led the list, but Subaru managed to place sixth with 962,123 vehicles affected from its four recalls.

Calendar Year Recalls

In all, the NHTSA reported more than 650 product recalls in 2012 covering 17.8 million vehicles. The NHTSA total included specific make/model vehicles as well as safety equipment and child car seats. Its numbers were based on the calendar year, not the model year.

The NHTSA gathers its product information through direct reports from consumers, but has also taken advantage of the digital age to gather data. Personnel from its Office of Defects Investigation listen in to online conversations, culling information from fan sites, individual automotive sites and bulletin boards. It also reviews technical service bulletins, trade publications and leading magazines to gauge what consumers are talking about.

NHTSA Recall Influence

Altogether, the NHTSA claims that it influenced recalls for more than 9 million vehicles and over 60,000 items such as tires and child safety seats in 2012. Said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. We have one of the most effective programs in the world and will continue, in 2013, to pursue investigations and recalls wherever our data justifies doing so. LaHood lauded his staff for its role in uncovering and initiating more than half of affected recalls in 2012.

The NHTSA boasts of its data accumulation prowess, noting that over the past three years it has handled nearly 42,000 complaints for possible safety defects, down over each of the two succeeding years. Still those recalls involved more than 22 million automotive products and vehicles, enabling this federal agency to stay ahead of the recall curve.

The Statistics Game

And if mind-blowing statistics is your thing, the NHTSA says that it has handled more than 17,000 recalls since it got started in 1966, accounting for more than 500 million affected vehicles and over 84 million items of equipment.

Lastly, the NHTSA notes that the huge number of recalls for some manufacturers isnt necessarily a reflection on vehicle quality. Rather, the introduction of new technologies tends to increase the number of recalls, as manufacturers work through the kinks to provide state-of-the-art vehicles and equipment for today’s discriminating new car buyers.