In April 2015, Fiat’s Vehicle Safety And Regulatory Compliance deportment began an investigation into certain 2013-2015 Fiat 500 battery electric vehicles after receiving warranty reports of loss of driving power. A review of the problem found that rapid operation of the cruise control speed adjustment switch or accelerator pedal application, while in cruise control, may set a diagnostic trouble code in the Elective Vehicle Control Unit (EVCU). This code will will force the vehicle into safe mode and automatically shift the vehicle into neutral. Once the fault code is set, a key cycle is required to allow the vehicle to shift out of neutral. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Software Problem
Acura MDX & RLX Collision Avoidance Malfunction
Honda will be notifying owners of certain Acura MDX and RLX vehicles about a safety problem affecting the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS). According to reports filed with the NHTSA, under certain driving conditions the CMBS may interpret roadside objects, such as metal fences and guardrails, as obstacles, and apply emergency braking. This unexpected braking could increase the risk of an accident. Continue reading
2015 Land Rover LR4 Stability Control Software Defect
Jaguar has identified a safety defect affecting the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) of certain 2015 Land Rover LR4 vehicles. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, ABS software designed to check the condition of the system and its associated network for defects, also known as ‘Good Check’, may have not been installed correctly into the ABS software. Continue reading
2012-2014 Toyota RAV4 EV Loss Of Drive Power
After three field reports and eight warranty claims, Toyota has decided to ask owners of certain 2012-2014 Toyota RAV4 EV’s to return to their dealership for a problem affecting the hybrid propulsion system. Due to a software issue, the drive inverter electronic control unit may not be able to determine the rotational position of the motor. This will cause a speed sensor error code which will trigger a “Check EV System” warning message on the instrument panel, turn on the malfunction indicator lamp, and cause the electric motor to shift into “neutral”. This complete loss of drive power may increase the risk of an accident. Continue reading
2015 Volkswagen Jetta Insufficient Exterior Lighting
Certain 2015 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles with low line electrical architecture and halogen headlights may not conform to FMVSS 108 (Lamps, Reflective Devices, And Associated Equipment). According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, the software within the control module is programmed to turn off the low beam headlights when the high beams are activated. This noncompliance could cause insufficient lighting, reducing the driver’s vision and increasing the chance of an accident. Continue reading
Chevrolet Silverado Inaudible Warning Indicator
The owners of certain 2014-2015 Chevrolet and GMC trucks and SUV’s equipped with base radio and an internal amplifier, could experience problems that will leave drivers with no audible warning indicators. This “No Chime Condition” will require that the vehicle be returned to the nearest dealership to have the radio software updated. The defect could leave drivers with no audible warning if the key is left in the ignition, the driver’s door is opened, or if the front passenger seat belt is not buckled. (Radio and chime functions are not restored until the battery is disconnected and reconnected.) Continue reading
2014 Jeep Cherokee Cruise Control Defect
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is an intelligent cruise control system that uses radar senors or lasers to automatically slow down and speeds up a vehicle to keep pace with surrounding traffic. When the system is working correctly, the technology can be a great tool for preventing accidents, but because it is relatively new, software glitches can leave drivers feeling unsafe. Continue reading
Nissan / Infiniti Airbag Classification Problem
An investigation has lead Nissan to identify a problem in certain Nissan and Infiniti vehicles, where the passenger air bag did not deploy and the air bag status light was not illuminated. The investigation uncovered a problem in which the Occupant Classification System (OCS) classified the seat as empty even though it was occupied. Nissan will be sending notices to owners with instructions on how to get their vehicles repaired. Continue reading
