Ford recalls have been issued for about 634,000 SUVS worldwide due to possible risk. On November 25, Tesla recalls were announced for approximately 80,000 cars in China as a result of some software issue.
Ford said its recalls will cover 2020-2023 model year Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs with 3 cylinder, 1.5 liter engines. Teslas have seatbelt and software issues, and is recalling Model 3, Model X, and Model Y cars. The mass recall has ignited questions about the safety of these vehicles, manufactured by global automakers.
Ford Recalls:
American automaker Ford is recalling vehicles as they have fire risks from possible cracked fuel injectors and will urge owners to have their cars inspected, the automaker said on November 24. The problem is with the cracked fuel injector that could cause fuel or fuel vapor to evaporate near hot surfaces that can result in a fire under the hood. As a fire can endanger the riders, vehicle owners have been urged to bring the car around for inspection once repairs are available.
Dealers will then update the software and check if the fuel injector is cracked and provide dashboard alerts for drivers. “If a pressure drop in the fuel rail is detected, engine power will automatically be reduced to minimize any risk, while also allowing customers to drive to a safe location and stop the vehicle and arrange for service,” Ford added.
Ford’s dealers will also install a drainage tube from the cylinder head, as a precautionary measure, and check for excessive fuel odor near the engine. The company admitted that it had received around 54 reports of fire under the hood. Although Ford recalls are in place, the company has not asked owners to stop driving the vehicle and clarified that so far no deaths have been linked to the recall.
Tesla Recalls: 19 and Counting
The Tesla recalls in China are connected to a software and seatbelt issue.
The recall of these models is due to a software issue that affects the battery management system of the cars. Tesla will upgrade the software on these vehicles free of charge. The automaker has also been in the news for Tesla crashes and getting in trouble with US authorities.
The electric carmaker is recalling 67,698 imported Model S and Model X vehicles that were manufactured between September 23, 2015 and November 21, 2020. The software on these models will be upgraded free of charge. The company is also recalling 2,736 imported Model 3 vehicles produced between January 12, 2019 and November 22, 2019 as well as 10,127 of the China-made version of this car, due to faulty seat belts.
The seatbelts will be checked and upgraded, if necessary. Investors will keep a keen eye on the implications of a Tesla recall in China, as EVs are a competitive market. Local manufacturers like Nio and Xpeng could give the American automaker a run for its money citing the Tesla recall while debuting their fleets.
Tesla stock could also be impacted if customers go down, as the company has a major factory in Shanghai and has a huge market in the South Asian nation.
Safety Issues and Vehicle Recalls in 2022
Over 14 million vehicles were recalled in the first half of 2022. When safety concerns prompt these recalls, manufacturers must fix the issue at no cost and in extreme cases, even buy back the vehicle from customers.
Tesla has issued 19 recall notices in 2022, affecting almost 3,769,572 vehicles. Another electric automaker Rivian is recalling almost all its 2022 batch because of a wheel fastener problem.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website lets you know if your vehicle has been recalled. You just need to enter your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) or its year, make, and model to search for recalls and safety issues, and to find what are your next steps.
The number of vehicle recalls have risen considerably in 2022. While this is a cause for concern, as it makes you wonder whether automakers take safety precautions seriously, the other side of the coin is that not all recalls were initiated after a nudge from the NHTSA. Some were voluntary after the car manufacturer identified issues or received reports of faulty systems.
This shows us that carmakers are taking charge to fix issues before they get worse. However, the sheer number of recalls issued this year is slightly worrying, as it shows a general lack of seriousness regarding these issues.
On the other hand, Duke law professor Nita Farahany told USA Today that there has been an uptick in recalls this year because we are getting better with technology. “What you’re getting is better early prediction and modeling, with better technology and AI tools that help across the different industries.”
Maybe, stricter regulations and penalties by the NHTSA will bring safety features up to the market, so that people are not inconvenienced after they buy the vehicle.
