Suzuki Every – Air con problems could cause fire
Barely few days after IAB remarked that more recalls are expected (Read – Now Hyundai recall the Sonata in US and Korea), the industry appears to be proving us right.
If you look at the faults that we have seen over these recalls, a majority of them are to do with systems or designs that have become complex with technology advancement or generations.
This raises three questions -
A/ Are testing methods for new technologies and mechanical designs insufficient? Is it a case of car makers compromising on passenger safety in a race to introduce new technology and designs in the market?
B/ Are existing safety/ testing regulations inadequate? We know of the stringent crash tests (like Euro NCAP, incidentally this rewards cars that employ electronic stability control and speed control) but what about technologies like the air con and steering systems? Is it time to create a regulation on these designs?
C/ Can mechanical designs and technologies such as Airbags, ABS, ESP etc be standardized? Take F1 for example. The McLaren ECU is standardized for all teams. This helps F1 and FIA regulate all cars. In my opinion standardization is the way to the future. It reduces development and testing costs. All manufacturers can then compete on the actual competitive factors of automobiles (i.e Product design, engine performance and value proposition).Just a thought to car makers.
YF Sonata – recalled in US and Korea
If there is one word, we are getting used to lately, it is “Recall”. Hyundai is the latest.
Yesterday, Hyundai have recalled 47300 Sonata’s in Korea and US. No problems in India as the model recalled is not sold here. Rather, the model “YF Sonata” has not been introduced in India yet. Just for the record, the YF Sonata also bagged the IIHS Top Safety Award for 2011 in US. The award is presented to the car that scores a good rating in front, side, rear and roll over crashes.
I must admit, this comes at a time, when Hyundai is actually doing well in the US. Considering Toyota’s problems, one of the biggest beneficiary in terms of sales in US is Hyundai. Of the 47300 vehicles recalled, only 1300 vehicles are from the US. That is a negligible number, but certainly one that the US market would not discount in the wake of recent trends.
Suzuki A-Star – fuel system forces recall
Joining the recall wagon is our own Maruti Suzuki and the problem is with the A-Star manufactured in India. IAB earlier carried a post in December 09 of the same problem in Netherlands (Suzuki A-Star facing lethal fuel systems).
The company has recalled about 100,000 cars manufactured between November 2008 and August 2009. It has identified a fault in the fuel pump gasket and O lining. These faults potentially cause a fuel leakage in case the fuel tank is filled to the brim beyond the auto cut off position. Yes, the sure shot way to avoid this problem is to never fill up your fuel tank to the brim, but now with the recall issued, we suggest you get the fault corrected should you get a notice from Maruti Suzuki.
The company has already sent out letters to customers who might face this problem and about 50,000 cars have been corrected since November 2009. This includes cars from India and overseas markets. That’s being very proactive and customer oriented. Kudos to Maruti Suzuki and team.
Entry posted on February 19, 2010 by
Anish;
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BMW
BMW X6 – 2010 models recalled in US
It appears that Toyota and Honda are not alone in the recall game. Joining the bandwagon is the premium car maker BMW. The company has intimated the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in US of a fault in X5 and X6 models manufactured between December 14, 2009 and December 16, 2009.
There have been no reports or complaints filed with NHTSA by customers. This is a notification by the company to the administrator of a safety defect in case of a rollover crash.
We do not know the number of vehicles under the recall, but this could be merely in hundreds. What is of more significance is the nature of the notice and the probable safety issue being reported.
Suzuki Netherlands has issued a recall of Swifts manufactured in Hungary between first quarter of 2005 and third quarter of 2007. Oxidation of metal portion near the boot lid along with moisture during the rainy season could lead to a short circuit in the brake light wiring, Suzuki said. The recall pertains to 12,000 cars.
Leftlane news reports 65,000 Elantras are being recalled for a faulty Fuel pump- Hyundai is recalling 65,000 Elantra sedans to replace a fuel pump that the automaker says could lose pressure and reduce engine performance. The recall only affects 2008 Elantras equipped with the 2.0 liter four-cylinder “Beta” engine, the only motor offered on the compact sedan in North America. The fuel pump recall affects cars produced from November 2007 [ Read More ]
