I Spy Another Software-related Recall

Hello, hello! And welcome back to The Recall Notice. This quarter we have three new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) software-related recalls to discuss. We will also explore how these faults could have been mitigated sooner and handled more effectively with a connected vehicle platform. If you’ve never joined us before, be sure to check out our interactive recalls dashboard, where you can sort by recall year, type, manufacturer, and more. Now, without any further ado, let’s drive into our first software-related recall. 

Navistar Airing out the Brakes 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V370000

OEM: Navistar, Inc.

Components: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

Estimated Vehicles Affected: 72,817

Remedy: Free Software Update at the Dealership

Estimated Cost to OEM: $21.8M - $36.4M

Our first recall is the result of a fault in the indicator lights of the anti-lock brake system (ABS) of certain Navistar heavy-duty trucks and buses. NHTSA Recall 23V37 was released on June 12th, 2023, and impacts certain International HV, HX, LT, MV, eMV, RH, and LoneStar trucks and IC Bus CE Commercial buses from model years 2021-2024, as well as IC Bus RE Commercial buses from 2021 to 2023, and IC Bus TC Commercial buses from 2022-2023. The software fault causes the ABS indicator light to turn off, even when a malfunction is present. This means that the driver may remain unaware of a potentially hazardous issue with their ABS, thus increasing the risk of a collision. This fault also places affected vehicles in violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 121 for Air Brake Systems. The remedy is a free software update, however, it does require a dealer visit to be completed.  

Chrysler Out of Power

NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V302000

OEM: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)

Components: POWER TRAIN

Estimated Vehicles Affected: 25,980

Remedy: Free Software Update at the Dealership

Estimated Cost to OEM: $7.8M - $13M

Our next recall, NHTSA Recall 23V302, was released on April 27th, 2023, and impacts almost 26,000 Jeep Cherokee vehicles from model years 2016 to 2017. This software-related recall involves a fault in the power transfer unit (PTU) which can cause the transmission and differential to disengage and ultimately lead to a loss of drive power and/or parking functionality. This issue increases the risk of a traffic collision both when the vehicle is in motion and in park. An investigation revealed that the issue began when the manufacturer started using a different PTU in vehicle production. When the input splines on these PTUs wear down, it can cause a loss of engagement between the PTU’s differential and the vehicle transmission, thus resulting in a loss of power or parking functionality. 

The remedy for this recall is a software update performed at the dealership, free of charge. The affected vehicles will be reflashed with software that initiates mitigating actions to maintain vehicle propulsion and park mode in the event of an input spline failure. Chrysler will also be reimbursing owners who have already repaired this issue at their own expense. 

Ford Bringing In Backup

NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V342000

OEM: Ford Motor Company

Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION

Estimated Vehicles Affected: 422,201

Remedy: In development

Estimated Cost to OEM: $126.7M - $211.1M

Our final recall of the day is NHTSA Recall 23V342, which impacts 422,201 Ford and Lincoln vehicles with 360-degree rear-view cameras. Recall 23V342 was released on May 12th, 2023, and is the result of an error in the video output of the vehicle’s 360-degree camera system. This fault causes a blue or black image to appear on the SYNC screen when vehicles are in reverse or during low-speed operation. Models included in this recall are certain Ford Explorers and Lincoln Aviators from model years 2020-2023 and Lincoln Corsair vehicles from model years 2020-2022. 

Unfortunately, the cause of this fault is still being investigated and the remedy is in development. Owners were notified of the fault in July and will be informed once a remedy is available. Additionally, recall 23V342 replaces NHTSA recall 23V022, however, vehicle owners that already received a remedy for 23V022 will once again need to return to the dealership for the new solution.  

Impact and Savings With Sibros

Each of the software-related recalls discussed today will cost the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) millions to hundreds of millions of dollars. Recalls like this also have the potential to impact brand perception and loyalty, especially when a vehicle owner has to return to the dealership multiple times for the same issue, like with Ford recall 23V342. 

Now to the important part: How can a connected vehicle platform help? 

Connected vehicle platforms, like Sibros’ Deep Connected Platform, enable OEMs with the ability to continuously improve their vehicles’ safety, quality, and functionality. Through the use of flexible data logging, automakers can capture exactly what data they want, when they want. Not only is it beneficial for identifying faults once vehicles are in the field, but also during initial testing and production. Imagine being able to stop recalls and warranty issues before they happen. 

Of course, there will almost always be issues that slip through the cracks, which brings us to the next benefit: vehicle-wide over-the-air (OTA) updates. While many OEMs have been experimenting with creating their own OTA platforms, few have managed to implement solutions that can consistently, reliably, and safely execute full-vehicle updates. Most are limited to infotainment or navigation updates. Others can perform minor updates on certain key systems, but fall short when it comes to larger safety-critical updates. 

Additionally, Sibros’ Deep Commander also allows automakers to perform on-demand remote commands. So, if an issue is identified in a particular make or model, OEMs can assess the extent of impact by initiating a diagnostic of all vehicles in the field. Sibros’ fully scalable connected vehicle platform integrates seamlessly with any vehicle architecture to provide full visibility and management for the entire vehicle lifecycle. 

To learn more about how we can help you effectively streamline your recall rollout process and proactively mitigate faults without costly dealership visits, talk to us today!