As a part of safety measures carried out around the globe, there has been a big list of ‘Recall’ by automobile manufacturers on respective models from their portfolio. In past 2 years, Indian auto industry has seen many automakers going through quality issues. Here are few major brands in our country that have been facing the problems.
Maruti Suzuki
Maruti’s latest entrant Ciaz, is facing clutch related issues in manual transmission of both diesel and petrol power trains. A batch of 3796 cars manufactured before 7th November 2014, is facing the issue. Company is trying to contact customers who have bought the car during specified time period.
Maruti has also provided a link on their company’s website from where one can check if their car is part of the batch and are also organizing a service campaign to get the faulty part replaced; free of cost. Customers can also contact the nearest dealership.
Maruti had recalled a bunch of 69,555 units in September 2014, including older models of Dzire, Swift and Ritz manufactured from March 2010 to August 2013. The problem was found in the fitment of wiring harness of the cars.
Maruti has had the biggest recall this year around April. Maruti had recalled 1,03,311 units of Ertiga, Dzire and Swift manufactured from November 2013 – February 2014. Within a time gap of 4 months, a big number had totaled up. However, fault was in the fuel filler neck.
Toyota
Previous generation Corolla Altis has also faced issues; regarding entry of engine oil into the air intake systems. Cars manufactured from June 15, 2010 to May 23, 2011 had been found related with the issue. According to Toyota, they hadn’t faced any distress call related to the issue; but as a general aspect of safety, they will be contacting customers through letters and e-mails. Company would be providing customers with facility of replacing the part at dealerships across the country.
Previous generation Toyota Camry is also facing a problem related with front suspension of the car. Batch of 119 units of the previous generation Camry manufactured in Japan between months of March 2011 to July 2011 had been recalled. Globally, 1.70 lakh Toyota Camry had been recalled; and this small unit makes a part of the entire global recall.
Toyota hadn’t received any complaints at that time but company is taking measures to contact the impacted customers, so as to take a look at the faulty issue and carry out required correction.
Ford
Ford had recalled 3072 units of current generation Fiesta’s diesel variant. Diesel powered cars had a fault in the glow plug control module. Ford is contacting customers with regard to the matter and is providing waterproof control module for the glow plugs; free of cost.
Honda
Honda India had been recalling a bunch of different models starting from Brio, Amaze and CR-V. The recall had been carried out because of an issue in Driver side airbag inflator. The problem is occurring due to assembly of baffle plate of the inflator. 1,040 units of Brio, 1,235 units of Amaze and 63 units of CR-V had been recalled. All the vehicles were manufactured in time period of September 2011 to July 2014. Honda has been contacting customers regarding the issue and is providing the replacement.
Company has also provided link for a micro-site on their official website concerning the matter; customers can check by submitting their cars Vehicle Identification (VIN) No.
Mahindra
Mahindra had recalled a batch of 2,300 cars consisting of Scorpio, XUV500 and Xylo manufactured in May 2014. The fault consists of defective vacuum pump in engines. The company would contact individuals and would carry out effective measures to replace the faulty parts.
Mahindra had even recalled 23,519 units of Scorpio; manufactured from May 2012-November 2013. One select trim of Scorpio had issues related to pressure regulating valves.
Audi
Audi India had recalled 6,758 units of A4 manufactured from time period of November 2011 – October 2014. The recall is part of a global recall consisting of 8.5 lakh units. The fault is not in any mechanical component of the car but instead it’s a software update. Software update has to be carried out to ensure effective deployment of airbags by setting specific parameters.
Dealers will be getting in touch with customers and the required software will be updated.
Audi India had recalled a bunch of 382 units of their robust SUV Q7. The issue was related to fault in vacuum line of the braking system. The recall was part of a global recall.
Nissan
Nissan had recalled Micra and Sunny in India as part of a global recall which consisted of 2.6 lakh units. 9,000 cars manufactured from 2008-2012 had been recalled. The fault was in Driver side airbag. Recall was made as the company’s airbag supplier, the Takata Corporation informed Nissan regarding the fault.
Extras
Before that, General Motors had recalled a bunch of 1.1 lakh Tavera last year; because of issues related to emission norms and specification.
Even the German manufacturers weren’t far behind.
Mercedes C-class 2015 model is facing a recall issue in US. The fault is in steering mechanism of the car. 10,500 units have been recalled. The company did face the problem in European models but says they haven’t noticed any issues in the US models; but is carrying out the recall as a precautionary measure.
Conclusion
SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) had started a voluntarily recall considering safety related issues from July 2012. Since then a total of 7 lakh cars have been recalled in our nation.
In a time period of 2 years, it’s a big number. Our nation already faces problem related to low safety standards in a car, nasty traffic conditions, bad driving sense and poor road safety and above that these recalls; it is a big mess.
How many customers have been contacted? Or how many customers have even tried to reach out to the dealerships to check regarding the recall?
Major companies in the sector are loaded up with moderate to minor issues but in huge amounts and limited time period. Is it a natural way in which the parts deteriorate or is it just a lack of attention to detail and quality from companies. Whatever it is; it is one great ball play.
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