SEPTEMBER 2022 NEWSLETTER |
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No Left Turns for GM's Cruise Self-Driving Software Following an Accident that Left Two Injured |
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With all the media hype, one would think that we're steps away from the Shangri-La of self-driving autonomy. Just remember to look both ways before those first few steps take you from the sidewalk to the street. San Francisco remains the test track for technology companies like Waymo, AutoX and GM's Cruise who are using the city as a sandbox to smooth out the wrinkles. Earlier this month after a crash that injured two people, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalled 80 vehicles from Cruise for software issues that allowed the autonomous vehicles to make unsafe left turns in front of oncoming vehicles. |
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Dubbed "robotaxis", driverless cars rely on software and technology to navigate without any human intervention. After the June 3 accident in San Francisco, the company prevented its vehicles from making unprotected left turns. An unprotected left turn refers to making a left at an intersection with a solid green light directing all traffic, rather than a green arrow designated for turning lanes. A software update was issued on July 6, gradually restoring full operability. NHTSA added that Cruise vehicles had incorrectly predicted another vehicle's path or were insufficiently reactive to the sudden path change of a road user. |
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A police report on the incident found that the other vehicle involved was more at risk, as it was traveling 40 mph in a 25 mph zone. In the past few months, NHTSA has increased its scrutiny of advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous vehicle systems. All automakers and technology companies are now directed to report all crashes involving self-driving vehicles. Despite the setback, Cruise remains optimistic about the future of its technology. In February 2022, Cruise and GM petitioned NHTSA for permission to deploy self-driving vehicles without steering wheels, mirrors, turn signals or windshield wipers. NHTSA has extended a public comment period to weigh the request against any opposition. Read more on the CNBC News website.
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Toyota Reaches Settlement in Federal Court Over Faulty Fuel Pumps
In a class-action settlement that could be worth $150 million, Toyota Motor Corp. wrapped up litigation tied to recalls of approximately 3.36 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The suit involves defective fuel pumps in 2013 to 2020 model years and equipped with Denso low-pressure fuel pumps. The defect can cause engines to stall. While the preliminary settlement requires a judges approval, Toyota and Denso International America Inc. (the fuel pump manufacturer) admitted no wrongdoing and will extend warranties for the fuel pumps to 15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. Toyota dealers will also provide complimentary loaner vehicles and towing options for repairs. Toyota and Lexus drivers reported loss of engine power and stalls, especially at low speeds. The defect involves more than 5.8 million vehicles, though Toyota described the problem more prevalent in the southern United States, where weather is warmer. Both sides lauded the outcome as good for consumers who seek a full remedy to the problem. Read more on the Reuters website.
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Supply Chain Woes and Rising Costs Pose Significant OEM Challenges
Since the pandemic began, chip availability has put a pinch on vehicle manufacturing. While issues with the global supply chain are nothing new, it's possible that we've reached critically low levels on more than chips and beyond manufacturing. Ford recently announced that inflation-related supplier costs may run $1 billion more than original estimates for the current quarter. The second-largest US automaker also reported 40,000 to 45,000 vehicles will remained sidelined awaiting parts, furthering delaying sales. Kelley Blue Book also reported that the parts shortage is also negatively impacting dealership service departments. Consumer patience with vehicle servicing has been tested due to a labor shortage of technicians, but the challenge is compounded with a lack of parts. Cox Automotive's Xtime reported a drop in scheduled appointments in July 2022 when compared to June 2022. With a shortage of new cars, Americans are driving older vehicles that cost more to maintain. Read more on the Kelley Blue Book website.
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Where, Oh Where, Did “Service” Go?
A Blog Post by Sean Reyes, Chief Marketing Officer for Recall Masters
The automotive industry is experiencing the most dramatic change since its inception. Many questions abound due to a multitude of policies impacted by manufacturing, legislation, inventory levels, and, of course, the gradual phase-out of internal combustion engines (ICE) vehicles by 2035 – which isn’t as far away as it sounds.
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All those actions could be a lengthy blog, in and of themselves, but here, I’d like to focus on service. Not just service departments in general, but customer service as well. To start, almost one hundred years ago, service departments were the origin of dealerships. Manufacturers were making vehicles, but they had no infrastructure in place for those vehicles to be repaired, regularly maintained, or take care of recalls. They certainly couldn’t expect buyers to make a road trip to Detroit every time their vehicle needed an oil change, right? That would be ridiculous. So, manufacturers started franchising their brands to gain |
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market share and provide convenient places for consumers to purchase vehicles and keep their vehicles well maintained thereafter.
An interesting article in Car and Driver shares a study performed by the independent research firm Pied Piper. According to the study, direct-to-consumer brands such as Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid, were the worst performing brands in their Prospect Satisfaction Index (PSI). This self-funded study has been conducted yearly since 2007 and measures customer satisfaction not just amongst brands, but also individual dealerships...Read the blog post in its entirety on the Recall Masters website.
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In Recent Recall Campaign News |
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Nissan Issues Second Round of Recalls for Rollaway Risk
Due to possible rollaway risk, Nissan is recalling 203,223 pickup trucks. The voluntary campaign affects Nissan Frontier and Titan models from years 2020 through 2023. NHTSA warned that the transmission's parking mechanism may not fully engage when the vehicle are in park and cause trucks to roll away. The federal agency estimates that just 1% of the trucks could have the defect. While Nissan prepares for the remedy, owners are advised to use their parking brake every time they park. This most-recent voluntary campaign is separate from one announced in June for more than 180,000 2020-2022 Frontier and Titan pickups plagued with a similar problem. Notification letters are expected to be mailed in November. Read more about this recall campaign on the MotorSafety.org website.
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Ford Issues Recall Over Cloudy Rearview Camera Image
Ford is recalling more than 277,000 F-250, F-350 and F-450 Super Duty pickup and Lincoln Continental sedans due to a defect in their 360-degree rearview camera systems. The recall stems from a plastic coating on the camera lens that may degrade over time and obscure the clarity of images. NHTSA reports that rear camera's exposure to UV radiation is the cause of the problem. The agency also reveals that an internal lens on the rear-view camera used by impacted vehicles has an anti-reflective coating that is susceptible to damage from exposure to ultraviolet radiation over time. Ford is instructing owners to take their car to a Ford or Lincoln dealership where the rear-view camera will be replaced free of charge. Read more about this recall campaign on the MotorSafety.org website.
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More Recall Campaign News
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