Toyota Motor PH is Recalling RAV4s for Airbag-Related Issue

Yet another car model joins the growing list requiring new airbags due to faulty ones installed by the now-defunct Takata, but not for the usual reason. Toyota Motor Philippines is announcing that 1,157 units of the RAV4 will require a new driver’s airbag.

These RAV4 units, according to a Defect Information Report supplied by Takata do not have phase stabilized ammonium nitrate propellants (the main cause of the Takata airbag recall). That said, they’ve found that these RAV4 units have airbag inflators which tend to absorb moisture over time. In turn, this may cause the airbag to inflate slowly or even rupture in the event of a crash.

Both Takata and Toyota haven’t really understood what factors may contribute to the inflators absorbing moisture, but out of caution, Toyota Motor Philippines has decided to take preemptive action and replace these airbag inflators with a new one at no cost to the owners.

The affected RAV4 models were produced between June 6, 1997 to August 17, 1999.

Toyota Motor Philippines is currently preparing the replacement parts, and will attempt to notify owners through Official Notification Letters. Given that these vehicles are over 20 years old though, it’s best for affected owners to contact their nearest authorized Toyota dealership to know more about this safety-related recall.

Lexus PH Will Replace Transmission Assembles for Free Because They Shifted Roughly

Lexus is living up to their tagline, “the relentless pursuit of perfection” by announcing a special campaign on selected RX350 SUVs simply because these SUVs shifted too roughly for their standards.

Technically, it’s not a safety recall, but rather a customer satisfaction campaign, it covers owners who might have been noticing the gearbox’s harsh engagement when shifting into Drive. Apparently, this is because the transmission’s control unit wasn’t programmed properly. The program covers 149 units produced from December 4, 2017 to December 25, 2018.

Lexus says affected units will require a reprogram of the engine control computer, and if necessary, they will replace the entire automatic transmission assembly to get rid of the harsh shifting—for free! How’s that for customer service?

Anyway, the carmaker will notify concerned customers by registered mail, and since this is not a safety-related campaign, owners will only have until December 31, 2022 to seek a course of action.

Toyota Motor Philippines Recalling Selected 2019 Alphard MPVs and Coaster Buses

Toyota Motor Philippines is recalling selected Alphard and Coaster models due to seat belts which may not lock properly in the event of a crash.

The affected models are equipped with seat belts that have two types of locking mechanisms. One of the locking mechanisms in certain seat belts may have not been assembled correctly. This can cause an occupant to not be restrained properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The Japanese carmaker has identified 80 Alphard units produced between August 20, 2019 to September 6, 2019 and 7 Coaster units produced between August 26, 2019 to September 6, 2019 to be affected.

Toyota is in the process of preparing the replacement parts and will notify affected customers through registered mail. Once the affected vehicle is brought to an authorized Toyota dealership, the seat belt mechanism will be inspected, and if necessary, replaced at no cost to the customer.

Mazda Philippines Recalling Selected 2020 Mazda3, CX-30 for Smart Braking System

Bermaz Auto Philippines (BAP), the exclusive distributor of Mazda in the Philippines has confirmed that selected units of the 2020 Mazda3 and 2020 CX-30 are part of a global recall due to the inadvertent activation of the Smart Braking System (SBS) automatic emergency braking system.

Incorrect programming of the SBS control software may cause the vehicle to falsely detect an obstacle in front of the vehicle while driving. In certain cases, the SBS control software may automatically apply the vehicle brakes to prevent or reduce damage from a collision, even though no collision is imminent. If the SBS automatic emergency braking system unexpectedly activates while driving, the risk of a rear-end crash from a following vehicle may increase. There is a warning alarm sound and warning message displayed in the multi-information and active driving displays when this defect occurs.

BAP has identified that 283 Mazda3s are affected by the said recall. These are the 2.0 Sedan Premium, 2.0 Sportback Premium, and 2.0 Sportback Speed models. Out of this number, 231 have already been sold to customers. Meanwhile, only 19 CX-30 units are affected. These are the 2.0 AWD Sport and AWD Signature variants.

Authorized Mazda dealerships in the Philippines have been notified of the recall last January 14, 2020, and information is now being disseminated to affected owners. The fix is relatively simple: a reprogramming of the Vehicle Control Module (VCM). In some cases, aside from the VCM reprogramming, the Instrument Cluster (IC) may need to be reprogrammed as well. These will be done free of charge.

The process of reprogramming the IC and VCM takes about an hour and can be done as part of the vehicle’s Periodic Maintenance Schedule (PMS).

Mitsubishi Philippines Announces Recall of Xpander MPVs

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines has announced a recall of Xpander MPV units purchased from May 2018 to October 22, 2019 due to a defective fuel pump installed in them. The recall has been officialized after the carmaker identified the models affected.

After its investigation, they have found that the plastic impeller on the inside of the fuel pump can inflate, and this stops the pump from rotating, causing the engine to stall or fail to start. The defective fuel pumps are found to have plastic impellers with a low molecular density causing the inflation.

Mitsubishi says they will replace the fuel pump free of charge. This procedure will take approximately 72 minutes subject to the availability of service bays, and of the replacement fuel pump. The Japanese auto giant also says the fuel pump replacement may be done during the Preventive Maintenance Service or PMS as well.

To ensure smooth servicing, customers are encouraged to call their preferred Mitsubishi Service Center to arrange an appointment. For additional concerns or inquiries, customers may call the Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Customer Care Center at +63 8250 8888 Mondays to Fridays 7 AM to 3:30 PM.

Three New Recalls Hit Subaru XV, Impreza, and Forester Models

Attention Impreza, XV, and Forester owners: Subaru has just confirmed that three new recalls affect these three best-selling vehicles in the Philippines, and that Motor Image Pilipinas is working closely with Subaru Corporation of Japan to assist all affected customers.

The first recall affects 2017-2019 Model Year Impreza and XV vehicles manufactured before August 6, 2018. Nearly 1,000 units are affected.

This recall is a precautionary measure to replace the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve. The PCV valve, which is an oil flow control device, may separate and allow engine oil to enter the combustion chamber. This may result in an excessive amount of smoke. The vehicle may experience a loss of power.

The second recall affects the 2017-2019 Model Year Impreza and XV vehicles manufactured from July 28, 2016 to August 21, 2018.

This is a precautionary measure to replace the brake hoses of affected vehicles. There are no safety concerns with regards to the brake system as braking performance is not affected. Due to insufficient sealing, brake fluid may enter the brake hose, causing it to swell. Nearly 1,000 units are affected.

The third recall affects 2017-2020 Model Year Impreza and XV vehicles and 2019-2020 Model Year Forester vehicles equipped with the 2.0-liter engine.

The recall is a precautionary measure to reprogram the Engine Control Module and inspect the ignition coil. Due to improper programming, the ignition coil may be energized after the engine is turned off. This could cause the internal temperature of the coil to increase and lead to a short circuit. Nearly 5,000 units are affected.

“Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified accordingly,” says Uzzi Asuncion, Head of Marketing Department, Motor Image Pilipinas. “We appreciate the understanding and patience of our customers as we finalize the list of affected units through their VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).”

Ford Philippines Responds to Viral Recall Notice Gone Wrong

On September 2, Alex Calleja wrote about a recall notice from Ford Philippines which seemed to be erroneously mailed to him. The recall, explained in detail covers the Takata airbags installed in the Ranger and Everest. Dated August 29, it was mailed to Mr. Calleja. There was just one hiccup: Calleja doesn’t own a Ranger or Everest.

Taking to Social Media, Calleja posted the recall notice along with this caption which immediately went viral (72,000 reactions on Facebook, 3,400 comments, and 14,000 shares as of today):

“hi ford philippines,  

nakatanggap ako ng safety recall notice dahil defective daw ang ford ranger/everest ko...nagworry ako dahil wala naman akong ford ranger/everest!  

at ngayon, inaaway ako ng misis ko dahil bakit daw ako may ford ranger/everest na hindi niya alam! baka raw naka-park sa ibang bahay! baka may bahay din daw siyang hindi alam! sa susunod ford philippines, kung sira ang mga unit niyo, wag niyo ng sirain ang buhay ko!  

ngayon natutulog ako sa loob ng honda civic ko!”

Translation:  

Hi Ford Philippines, 

I received a safety recall notice bcause my Ford Ranger/Everest is defective. I got worried because I don’t have a Ford Ranger/Everest! And now, my wife is arguing with me on why I bought a Ford Ranger/Everest without her knowing! I may have parked it in another house! Another house that she doesn’t know of. Next time, Ford Philippines if your vehicles have problems, don’t bring those problems to my life. 

Now I’m sleeping inside my Honda Civic.

We reached out to Ford Philippines about the matter, and EJ Francisco Ford Philippines Communications Director supplied us with the following statement:

“We immediately reached out to Mr. Alex Calleja upon seeing his Facebook post last September 2, 2019. After checking our records, we can confirm that the safety recall letter was not intended for Mr. Calleja. His personal data could have been sourced from a promotional activity, and was erroneously tagged as a Ford customer. We have rectified the error and we commit to ensuring the integrity of our customer database and data gathering processes.”

See? All’s well that ends well.

To Mrs. Calleja, Alex does not own a Ford Ranger/Everest. With that, we hope you can let Alex sleep inside the house now.

Honda Cars Philippines is Recalling Recalled Accord, Civic, City, CR-V, and Jazz Units for Airbags

Three years ago, Honda Cars Philippines was one of many automakers who had to issue recalls due to defective Takata airbag inflators. At that time, 19,624 units were affected. And while they were able to fix some of them, it looks like they’ll have to rework 14,074 of these units.

These units, covering the Accord, Civic, City, CR-V, and Jazz need a second replacement of the front passenger airbag inflator. The list consists of:

• 2003 Honda Accord: 290 units
• 2001-2005 Honda Civic: 1,651 units
• 2006-2009 Honda Civic: 225 units
• 2003-2008 Honda City: 1,652 units
• 2009 Honda City: 38 units
• 2003-2006 Honda CR-V: 9,551 units
• 2007-2009 Honda CR-V: 145 units
• 2002-2008 Honda Jazz: 500 units
• 2009 Honda Jazz: 22 units

It was determined that the supplier of the initial replacement had a flaw in the manufacturing process that increased the risk of inflator rupture during airbag deployment which may cause serious injury to vehicle occupants. To correct this, Honda has changed their supplier of airbag inflators.

While there have been no reported cases of injuries, Honda is tasking their 42 authorized dealerships and service centers to replace the defective front passenger airbag inflator for free. The entire process will take just one hour to finish.

Honda Cars Philippines is already in the process of notifying the owners of the affected vehicles.

UPDATED: What's All the Brouhaha About the Honda BR-V's Fuel Pump?

Update: Honda Cars Philippines says they have fixed all affected units already (8/13).

“The issue is the lack of communication about the problem. If this is a known problem, they [customers] shouldn’t have to wait for months for the part. How impossible is that? Why is that wala pa ring statement ang Honda Cars Philippines. Imagine being a customer, and not wanting to use your car in case you can’t start it again, and then having to see all Honda’s attention and money being spent on the launch of the new BR-V,” quips from the lengthy rant of an influencer who doesn’t seem to properly grasp the whole situation here.

Well, Mr. Influencer, we’re here to educate.

First of all, let’s talk about stocking parts. If he spent more time searching Google than he did in his own Inbox, a quick search reveals that a typical fuel pump lasts more than 80,000 kilometers. In fact, a look at Honda Cars Philippines’s very own PMS guide shows that the fuel pump is not even considered as something that’s routinely replaced. Having said that, things like the fuel filter are replaced every 2 years or 40,000 kilometers (which ever comes first), while the fuel line, tank, and connections are inspected every 10,000 kilometers.

With that, it doesn’t make business sense for dealers or even the distributor to keep a stock of 14,807 BR-V (that’s the number of units sold up until June) fuel pumps on hand. If any car company were to do this, then they’ll be inundated with a part that doesn’t routinely get replaced, or be driven to bankruptcy because they’ve stocked too much fuel pumps. Suddenly, when a customer wants his oil filter changed, they may not have it simply because all they are fuel pumps. Imagine this scenario:

Owner: Oh, my tie rod’s busted. Can I have it replaced?

Service Technician: Yes sir, but you’ll have to wait 6 months. Can we interest you in replacing your fuel pump instead?

Wow. And then this irate customer will run to you and complain.

See, there’s careful planning involved, from both sales and aftersales side to make sure they maintain the correct about of stock on hand. In cases where there’s an unusual spike for parts—such as the need for replacement ECUs during Ondoy (remember that?), it’ll take time for any car maker to order, stock, and distribute them to their respective dealer.

Now, let’s head on to him looking for an official statement.

Perhaps it’s become typical for car manufacturers to kowtow to you and your half a million raffle followers, but asking, no demanding for an official statement is not something that can be done quickly. As of now, the only statement Honda Cars Philippines has come up is this, and it’s been posted on the BR-V Owner’s Forum:

“Honda Cars Philippines is actively addressing the concerns of the customers as they come to the dealerships and submit their vehicles for evaluation. As per our Service Department, all units that were brought in have been addressed already. If there are customers who still have concerns with their vehicles, we highly encourage them to bring in their cars to their preferred dealerships for evaluation and repair.”

Wow, that’s a pretty strong message right there, don’t you agree? According to a source inside Honda Cars Philippines, the number of affected vehicles is small. And out of the small number involved, they are addressing customer complaints as quickly as they come in. More often than not, our source says, the problem is stemming from BR-V owners that don’t follow the prescribed Preventive Maintenance Service or PMS schedule. They are not categorically saying that there is a direct link between skipping PMS and the issue at hand, but there is a trend.

Now, as to why they can’t roll over and play dead for you, the reason is simple: their technical team is still figuring out what the problem is. If they did, they would have released official information to abide by DTI regulations, which is by itself aligned to international guidelines (ISO 10393:2018). By ISO (and not Influencer) standard, a product can only be recalled if the products or products are clearly identifiable to make sure the recall notice is as precise as possible. That is what they are doing at this point. Right now, they cannot come up with any official statement unless they determine the fault at hand (if any), the available remedy (if any), and their planned course of action (if any).

If there’s one thing you can bet on Honda Cars Philippines is that they’ve been pretty transparent about recalls. They’ve even dedicated a tab on their webpage about it with about 15 recall notices in the past 6 years.

Oh, and before anyone comments that recalls are “bad,” they’re not. More than anything, it shows that a carmaker is proactive in fixing issues that are known to cause potential problems to keep the driver, his occupants, and other motorists on the road safe.

And finally, to the last point about Honda’s attention and money going to the launch of the new BR-V. Man, that sounds like you’re actually sourgraping for not being invited to the drive! He mentions that owners have flocked to him since June about the problem and guess what, he decides to act on this just now! That is just so odd.

Volvo Philippines Confirms: Local Models Affected by Recall

After reports that 507,000 Volvo cars are at risk due to a potential engine fire, Volvo Cars Philippines has confirmed that several of its models are affected.

In a statement, Volvo Cars Philippines says they’ve identified the models affected by the global recall, and have started contacting the vehicle owners. The fix involves an engine management software upgrade and will take about an hour. This will be free of charge.

Volvo Cars Philippines says they will continue to take a proactive approach so that their customers can continue to enjoy a safe and comfortable ownership experience.

Volvo to Recall 507,000 Vehicles Due to Fire Risk

Swedish luxury carmaker Volvo is recalling 507,000 vehicles globally because of a faulty engine component that, in extreme cases, could result in a fire.

The Bloomberg reports that through Volvo’s internal investigation, they have identified that the plastic engine intake manifold may melt and deform. Because of this, a “localized engine bay fire” may occur.

The recall covers Volvo’s 2.0-liter 4-cylinder diesel engine in cars produced between 2014-2019. It affects a wide array of models: S60, S80, S90, V40, V60, V70, V90, XC60, and XC90.

While the company has no reports of accidents or personal injuries, all customers will receive a letter asking them to contact their local retailer for corrective action.

Source: Bloomberg

Ford Responds to Reports That It Covered Up Faulty Transmissions

After a pretty damning picture painted by an investigative report by The Detroit Free Press, Ford has now issued an official statement regarding the DPS6 or PowerShift dual clutch transmission. For transparency, here it is in full:

At Ford, we have no higher priority than earning and keeping the trust of our customers and assuring they are safe.  That is why we are deeply concerned consumers may be confused or fearful as a result of recent reporting in the Detroit Free Press about the development and introduction of Ford’s DPS6 transmission nearly a decade ago.

That reporting includes conclusions that are not based in fact, which risks misleading customers about the safety and dependability of their vehicles.

This is too important for such misunderstanding to take hold.  Consumers deserve to be told that vehicles with the DPS6 have proven to be safe, after billions of miles on the road since Ford introduced them in good faith.  Indeed, automobiles with current versions of the transmission rank highly in performance and reliability, based on warranty statistics. 

Here is what Ford believes consumers need to know:

• The DPS6 was an all-new transmission made by a company named Getrag and introduced in 2011 and 2012 on Fiesta and Focus models.  It was designed to improve the fuel economy of those vehicles.
• In the development process, the DPS6 successfully completed extensive pre-launch study, testing and refinement.  This process is universally applied at Ford.  Vehicles are not launched until they reach key development milestones.
• As we acknowledged years ago and have determinedly addressed, two distinct quality issues related to this transmission emerged after it was launched: (1) A degree of vibration, or shudder, when the all-new automatic transmission operated at low speed.  Similar to what is experienced with a manual transmission, the vibration was effectively a tradeoff for the higher level of fuel efficiency.  Durability and safety were not compromised.  We underestimated its effect on customer satisfaction, as well as the complexity and time required to remedy the issue and optimize performance. (2) On a much smaller scale, a potential for the transmission to default to neutral – while still maintaining full power steering and braking – developed only after several years of real-world use of these vehicles.  In 2014, the source was traced to a faulty control module. Contrary to an assertion by the Free Press, conversations inside Ford in 2008 had nothing to do with a matter that did not exist until years later.
• The Free Press included allegations about accidents and injuries purportedly caused by the DPS6 transmission, including instances of “sudden…acceleration.”  We have not seen that occur with the DPS6 and are not aware of evidence that would validate cause-and-effect in these cases.

Ford has been persistent in addressing these quality problems. We have gone to great lengths investigating the issues, alerting dealers and consumers, recommending and making repairs, and extending warranties.  Resolving the problems took longer than we expected.  We regret the frustration and inconvenience this has caused.

Unfortunately, reporting by the Free Press has needlessly added to consumer frustration and generated unwarranted concern.  The newspaper has relied on documents that have been publicly available for a year, many of them shopped to reporters by attorneys attempting to call new attention to an old topic.  Ford could have helped avoid numerous factual errors like the ones above.  However, the Free Press declined an invitation to meet with our engineering experts – and go over facts in detail – prior to publishing these stories.

Ford continues to stand behind the affected vehicles today, including providing owners involved in a class action an option to resolve their claims sooner through voluntary arbitration, following the guidelines of the pending class settlement.  Across our global business, we remain diligent and accountable in developing products and services that best meet the needs and interests of consumers.

A Bad Pothole May Cause Some Toyota Rush SUVs to Deploy Their Curtain Airbags

Toyota Motor Philippines is issuing a recall for 12,124 Rush SUVs which have been found to have an inappropriately programmed airbag control module.

In its findings, Toyota says that faulty programming may cause the curtain airbags to deploy upon impact on the rear wheel. The fix involves the replacement of the airbag computer assembly with a new one at no cost to the customer. The recall affects Rush SUVs produced from April 2, 2018 to February 7, 2019.

For its part, Toyota Motor Philippines remains dedicated to customer safety and satisfaction, and has begun the process of contacting concerned customers through notification letters. Customers can also get in touch with any authorized Toyota dealership to determine whether their Rush is affected by the said issue.

Internal Documents Show Ford Knew That PowerShift Dual Clutch Transmission was Flawed

History is now repeating itself for Ford. After battling image/design issues (and losing) in the 1970s with the Pinto, the American carmaker is now finding itself doing pretty much the same thing, this time with the Fiesta and Focus’s flawed dual clutch transmission.

An investigative report from The Detroit Free Press paints an unsavory picture of the Ford DPS6 dual clutch transmission (aka PowerShift) including Ford’s knowledge that the cars they’ll be installed in will end up being problematic, and their subsequent refusal to make an expensive change in the transmission technology.

The publication gained access to a high-level confidential analysis by Ford in 2012 acknowledging that the Fiesta and Focus were rushed into production, taking shortcuts along the way to save money, and that the transmission was supposed to be short-lived, replaced by a new technology going forward. This didn’t happen.

As early as 2008, Ford lawyers told engineers that they were wary about the safety of the dual-clutch technology which had encountered problems during early use by Volkswagen in Europe. At the time, the lawyers note the transmission’s tendency to slip out of gear. Weirdly enough, it was Ford’s quality supervisor who responded that “stalling alone is not hazardous.” What’s worse, in the coming years the so-called gear slippage problem was never fixed.

Just 6 months before the Focus went on sale, a Ford product development engineer described his experience with the transmission as “a nasty launch judder that did not clear up after many miles of driving.” Furthermore, he said, “we also cannot achieve a drivable calibration that will get us to production. The clutch torque delivery MUST BE IMPROVED.” [emphasis from the email]. Regardless, the Focus was shipped out with a promise to come up with a “permanent resolution.”

The internal 2012 review pointed out that the problems stemming from the DPS6 transmission was due to the lack of development time. The selection of the transmission, for instance, was done 12 months later than normal limiting prototype verification, launch readiness, and mass production. And as the vehicle neared towards launch, the “issues increased rather than declined.”

Furthermore, a Ford engineer said, “design and release engineers, calibration development engineers, manufacturing engineers, customer service engineers and transmission engineers all knew the transmissions were bad but kept it quiet.”

When the Fiesta and Focus launched, Ford simply passed the buck to customers, telling them they didn’t understand how the cars worked or know how to properly operate them. In reality, Ford were aware of the problems, sending engineers to investigate customer complaints calling it a “safety issue.”

In 2014, Ford opted to extend the warranty on the transmissions and created a six-page “talking points” guide to help dealers work with customers. Included there? Ford’s decision not to “proactively communicate with the press.”

Two years later, Ford’s internal update notes that 350,000 vehicles have already been repaired more than 3 times in the U.S. alone and that complaints to the National Highway Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA) are 50 percent higher in a shorter period than the exhaust gas leak complaint on the Ford Explorer.

In Australia, Ford has already lost its case there and was slapped with the largest corporate fine due to the company’s “unconscionable conduct” in handling problems with the EcoSport’s dual clutch transmission. The same can be said in Thailand where courts there ruled in favor of 291 Ford Fiesta and Focus owners, slapping a USD 720,000 (~ P 37.59 million) fine against the American carmaker.

Now, as Ford faces what could be the biggest suit from the defective transmission, not only are they warning their investors of the financial threat, but they are facing thousands of angry customers, including loyalists who say they will never buy a Ford again. And that could have a longer lasting effect than any lawsuit.

Source: The Detroit Free Press

Ford Could Face the Largest Lawsuit Against Its Problematic Dual Clutch Transmission

A record fine in Australia. A rare victory for customers in Thailand. Now, former Ford CEO Mark Fields has been ordered to testify confirming what consumers actually know: Ford’s dual-clutch PowerShift is problematic.

Fields is set to testify in a series of cases involving customers who opted out of the class-action lawsuit that complained about Ford’s problematic dual clutch transmission and its propensity to shudder, jerk, and hesitate. The suits have since been combined into a federal case in California where Fields has been ordered to appear in court by July 31.

At the time the dual clutch transmission was introduced, Fields was Ford’s president of the Americas and his disposition is critical in confirming that Ford’s executives at the highest level knew of the problems with the transmissions, intentionally concealed that information, and sold the vehicles to the public anyway.

If Fields confirms that he has knowledge that the company intentionally hid the PowerShift problem, they could face the largest lawsuit against the problematic gearbox and could be hit with a potential USD 4 billion (~ P 208 billion) liability.

UPDATED: Ford Recalling 1.2 Million Explorers for Diminished Steering Control

UPDATE: This article is updated with an official statement from Ford Philippines (6/16).

Ford is recalling 1.2 million Explorer SUVs from 2011 to 2017 model years because of an issue that diminishes steering control. In turn, this makes them hard to steer and increases the risk of a crash.

Ford says that Explorer SUVs that are exposed to frequent full rear suspension articulation (jounce and rebound) may experience a fractured rear suspension toe link. One customer reported hitting a curb when the toe link broke. Ford is not aware of any reports of injury related to this condition.

To correct this, Ford will remove and replace both left- and right-hand rear suspension toe links with new forged ones and will also align the rear suspension. The recall affects units built at its Chicago Assembly Plant from May 17, 2010 to January 25, 2017.

Though the recall currently only affects North American models (U.S., Canada, and Mexico), we have reached out to Ford Philippines to find out if Philippine models (also assembled in the Chicago Assembly Plant) are affected. This article will be updated.

Ford Philippines has responded with this statement: No Ford Explorer vehicles in the Philippines are included in this recall announcement.

2019 Honda CR-Vs Faces Global Recall for Sudden Airbag Deployment

Honda is recalling 137,000 2019 CR-Vs globally for airbags that can suddenly and unexpectedly deploy. The carmaker says there have been six instances of unwarranted airbag inflations leading to three injuries.

Apparently, metal burrs on the interior surface of the steering wheel can damage the wiring harness and cable reels that are part of the airbag system. This can lead to an electrical short and overheating of components, and in some cases, the sudden inflation of an airbag.

Honda says there may be warning signs ahead of an actual airbag inflation. These can include malfunction of steering wheel-mounted control buttons, the horn sounding unexpectedly, and illumination of the SRS warning light on the dash.

To fix this problem, Honda says they will install a protective cover on the steering wheel core, and replace the clock spring and wiring harness.

Of the total number of CR-Vs affected by the recall, around 118,000 were sold in the United States. We have contacted Honda Cars Philippines to determine if the Philippine market CR-Vs are affected, and this story will be updated with any feedback.

Ford Lied About Transmission Problems, Passed Blame to Customers

Ford may be facing a potential USD 4 billion (~ P 208 billion) liability concerning its PowerShift dual clutch transmission after indications rose that the American carmaker practically lied about its defects to unload cars with the faulty gearbox only to then blame the drivers for the problems they experienced.

The report from The Detroit Free Press states that 1.9 million unhappy Ford customers said that their car’s transmissions were prone to “shuddering, slipping, bucking, jerking, hesitation while changing gear, premature internal wear, delays in downshifting, and in some cases, sudden or delayed acceleration.”

While Ford settled a class-action lawsuit regarding the faulty transmissions, a nonprofit Washington, D.C.-based consumer group said that the USD 35 million (~ P 1.8 billion) deal “provided a sweet deal for Ford and a raw deal for its customers.”

If this goes through, this is the largest lawsuit against the problematic Ford PowerShift system.

In Australia, Ford has already lost its case there and was slapped with the largest corporate fine due to the company’s “unconscionable conduct” in handling problems with the EcoSport’s dual clutch transmission. The same can be said in Thailand where courts there ruled in favor of 291 Ford Fiesta and Focus owners, slapping a USD 720,000 (~ P 37.59 million) fine against the American carmaker.

In a statement, Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety had this to say:

“There are some basics that we all expect to not have to worry about with our cars: Do they start? Are they safe? Will it drive as if it was built in the 21st Century and not as if it had a transmission built by the first assembly line conceived of by Henry Ford?”

“The thousands of complaints by Ford owners about the transmission problems in these vehicles, and a lack of a comprehensive fix being put forth by the manufacturer, speaks volumes about the way Ford treats its customers.”

In a statement, Ford acknowledged the problem saying, “We took too long to identify the issues and we acknowledge that PowerShift customers did not have complaints handled appropriately. ... We were overwhelmed with the volume of complaints. ... Our processes were inadequate and information provided was either inaccurate or incomplete. We let our customers down and for that we are sorry.”

Source: Detroit Free Press

Selected Chevrolet Vehicles Covered by Takata Airbag Recall

The Covenant Car Company, Inc., the official distributor of Chevrolet vehicles in the country says that certain models are found to be affected by the global Takata airbag recall.

In a statement, the company says that a total of 3,430 units require changing the driver’s airbag due to the possibility that it may deploy with too much force in an accident. The recall covers the Cruze, Orlando, and Sonic models particularly:

• Cruze (2010 – 1,119 units; 2011 – 206 units; 2012 – 789 units; 2013 – 67 units)
• Orlando (2011 – 1 unit; 2012 – 466 units; 2013 – 75 units)
• Sonic (2013 – 707 units)

TCCCI says that they will replace the airbag module at no cost to the customer and this will be done through authorized Chevrolet service centers. They will get in contact with the owners of affected vehicles through notification letters soon and how to schedule the necessary repair to their vehicle.

12.3 Million Vehicles May Get Another Airbag-related Recall Soon

The global recall concerning faulty Takata airbag inflators hasn’t even completely settled down yet, and another one looks to be on the way.

The Associated Press reports that as much as 12.3 million vehicles around the world may be affected due to airbags that may not inflate in a crash. The problem, which may be responsible for as many as 8 deaths already, is linked to a defective airbag control unit made by German parts maker ZF-TRW.

The U.S.-based National Highway Transportation Safety Administration or NHTSA has already launched an investigation and this may affect vehicles made by Toyota, Honda, Kia, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, and Fiat Chrysler from the 2010-2019 model years.

According to NHTSA documents, the airbag control units can fail in a crash, possibly because of unwanted electrical signals produced by the crash itself that can disable an air bag control circuit housed in the passenger compartment.

For the moment, the NHTSA has shifted its investigation regarding ZF-TRW airbag control units from “preliminary evaluation” to “engineering analysis,” which is for all intents and purposes a step closer towards seeking recalls.

Source: Associated Press