Auto recalls must be the latest trend

[Vlad D Impeller]

Now Honda is having it's turn on the catwalk.

Honda - Japan's second-biggest carmaker - said the defective airbags can overinflate and burst, spraying potentially deadly metal shards.

The carmaker said the inflators were at risk of rupturing, "resulting in metal fragments passing through the airbag cushion material and possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle occupants".

The fault has already been linked to 11 injuries and one fatality.

Honda said in a statement: "We cannot be completely certain that the driver's airbag inflator in the vehicles being added to this recall at this time will perform as designed."

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

"On the catwalk...yeah I shake my little tuss, on the catwalk..."

 

[JB]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

I don't understand how a one-in-several-thousand probability that a part will fail can cause such hysterical uproar in the media.

We are talking about a level of reliability and safety that was beyond our wildest dreams just a generation ago. Now it gets the maker all sorts of black eyes because it isn't perfect.

I almost wish they would go back to demonizing Tiger. . .um, no; that was even worse.

 

[642mx]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

I don't understand how a one-in-several-thousand probability that a part will fail can cause such hysterical uproar in the media.

Well JB, I could explain it to you.... but I would be violating the forum rules of talking about politics. But your an educated guy, I'm sure you've already figured out who owns who, who backs who, who will profit from who being on the cross, etc, etc...

Amazingly enough, the 2 recent Dodge recalls never made the evening news... 1 was a spindel nut that may or may not been installed! And the other was a clip that may or may not have been installed causing total brake failure. Interesting huh?

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

I don't understand how a one-in-several-thousand probability that a part will fail can cause such hysterical uproar in the media.

We are talking about a level of reliability and safety that was beyond our wildest dreams just a generation ago. Now it gets the maker all sorts of black eyes because it isn't perfect.

Couldn't agree more JB. The media hype around this is pretty ridiculous with respect to the excellent products that are out there right now.
I would take any recalled Toyota (or any brand for that matter) today than anything made in the late 70's or 1980's...virtually no comparison whatsoever in terms of quality and reliability.
I do find the demonizing of Toyota and now a bit of Honda is a little suspicious. Not much has been said recently of Ford leading the charge in recall numbers with their late 90's recall of 14,000,000 vehicles (compared to Toyota's current 9,000,000)....hmmm. That recall related to a part that could cause the vehicle to burn to the ground.
Interesting stuff...but always worth having the full picture and perspective on the whole deal.
BP

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

The recalls certainly stir up some conflicting discussions. There's allways at least 3 sides to every argument but I'm wondering how I would feel if a loved one was killed because of a defective product. I'm not talking about the stupid stuff like the warning that tells you not to stick your head in a bucket full of water. That once in a million probability of failure would sure take on a different spin if the victim was one of my family members.

 

[tpcowfish]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

The guy states 11 injured ,and one fatally., and its demonizing?

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

I don't understand how a one-in-several-thousand probability that a part will fail can cause such hysterical uproar in the media.

We are talking about a level of reliability and safety that was beyond our wildest dreams just a generation ago. Now it gets the maker all sorts of black eyes because it isn't perfect.

Couldn't agree more JB. The media hype around this is pretty ridiculous with respect to the excellent products that are out there right now.
I would take any recalled Toyota (or any brand for that matter) today than anything made in the late 70's or 1980's...virtually no comparison whatsoever in terms of quality and reliability.
I do find the demonizing of Toyota and now a bit of Honda is a little suspicious. Not much has been said recently of Ford leading the charge in recall numbers with their late 90's recall of 14,000,000 vehicles (compared to Toyota's current 9,000,000)....hmmm. That recall related to a part that could cause the vehicle to burn to the ground.
Interesting stuff...but always worth having the full picture and perspective on the whole deal.
BP

You guys hit the nail on the head.

The amount of control our media has over modern society is apalling.
And a little behind the scene's hocus pocus to boost Government Motors #'s is not out of the question.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

I don't understand how a one-in-several-thousand probability that a part will fail can cause such hysterical uproar in the media.

We are talking about a level of reliability and safety that was beyond our wildest dreams just a generation ago. Now it gets the maker all sorts of black eyes because it isn't perfect.

I almost wish they would go back to demonizing Tiger. . .um, no; that was even worse.

Hysterical uproar? Which media reports are you referencing...it actually isn't that easy to find much info on this one.
A one-in-several-thousand probability that a part would fail would have any car manufacturer out of business very quickly.
Current TQM programs such as Six Sigma etc. target defect rates of less than 5 per million. The Japanese led the charge on these.

It also is pretty important what sort of part is in question. A faulty window handle that breaks off if too much force is applied probably won't be on the 6 o'clock news. But an exploding airbag inflator that sprays shrapnel around the passenger compartment would be a bit disconcerting to the occupants and probably deserves some action by the manufacturer...

Communication 101 will tell you that if you have good news, you should trickle it out to extend the effect, if you have bad news, open the tap wide to get it all out quickly.
Toyota (and Tiger) got that backwards and have suffered more than they needed, but it was self-inflicted.
We'll see how Honda makes out.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

For the last 22 years I have worked for an OEM automotive supplier of interior trim components. To echo what Tim said, an automotive supplier who produces 1 defective part out of every thousand will be out of business very quickly. Anything over about 50 to 100 parts per million will land you on a very rigorous (and expensive) Supplier Improvement Program, assuming the car company wants to keep you at all. And this for interior components that won't kill you if they fail.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

An airbag which will kill you. I love a good irony.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

Hysterical uproar? Which media reports are you referencing...it actually isn't that easy to find much info on this one.
A one-in-several-thousand probability that a part would fail would have any car manufacturer out of business very quickly.
Current TQM programs such as Six Sigma etc. target defect rates of less than 5 per million. The Japanese led the charge on these.

It also is pretty important what sort of part is in question. A faulty window handle that breaks off if too much force is applied probably won't be on the 6 o'clock news. But an exploding airbag inflator that sprays shrapnel around the passenger compartment would be a bit disconcerting to the occupants and probably deserves some action by the manufacturer...

Communication 101 will tell you that if you have good news, you should trickle it out to extend the effect, if you have bad news, open the tap wide to get it all out quickly.
Toyota (and Tiger) got that backwards and have suffered more than they needed, but it was self-inflicted.
We'll see how Honda makes out.

Well put!

 

[doomone]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

For the last 22 years I have worked for an OEM automotive supplier of interior trim components. To echo what Tim said, an automotive supplier who produces 1 defective part out of every thousand will be out of business very quickly. Anything over about 50 to 100 parts per million will land you on a very rigorous (and expensive) Supplier Improvement Program, assuming the car company wants to keep you at all. And this for interior components that won't kill you if they fail.

agreed, and it's much better if these 'recalled cars' are being re'sell' at a lower price after they've been 'repaired' or nipped & tucked

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

I sure wish Honda would do a recall on all the new Accords running around with too-small rear brake pads that wear out after 15k miles that they are making the owners replace. We drive 30k a year. So much for buying a car based on perceived reliability. Next time we're buying whatever is prettiest.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

hmmmm.....I wish Charmin would do a recall on their "extra strong" tp that ripped apart prematurely.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

For the last 22 years I have worked for an OEM automotive supplier of interior trim components. To echo what Tim said, an automotive supplier who produces 1 defective part out of every thousand will be out of business very quickly. Anything over about 50 to 100 parts per million will land you on a very rigorous (and expensive) Supplier Improvement Program, assuming the car company wants to keep you at all. And this for interior components that won't kill you if they fail.

Delphi?

 

[mscher]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

You guys hit the nail on the head.

The amount of control our media has over modern society is apalling.
And a little behind the scene's hocus pocus to boost Government Motors #'s is not out of the question.

Did not take long, for the CONSPIRICY THEORIES to surface. Maybe GM was also tied to that whole JFK thing.

The reason this recall is being pounded everywhere in the news, is because it is a MAJOR NEWS STORY!

Anyone remember the Firestone tire recall? How about the Chevy truck side mounted gas tanks? Of course we don't. We have all moved on to the news story of today.

Nearly every auto maker takes at least a minor pounding, by the media for recalls.

Here are a few doozies. http://www.wtop.com/?nid=111&sid=1874918

 

[tbear1964]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

For the last 22 years I have worked for an OEM automotive supplier of interior trim components. To echo what Tim said, an automotive supplier who produces 1 defective part out of every thousand will be out of business very quickly. Anything over about 50 to 100 parts per million will land you on a very rigorous (and expensive) Supplier Improvement Program, assuming the car company wants to keep you at all. And this for interior components that won't kill you if they fail.

+1
I work for an OEM and Tier 1 fastener manufacturer (12 years). You don't want the big 3 breathing down your neck. They're up another orifice all the time anyway.

I still remember our only recall in my employ, 7 or 8 years ago.......outside heat treater double treated some washers and they were prone to cracking.(too hard) Maybe 60,000 parts but still a recall. It was Winter and the vehicles had to be brought indoors for the trim to warm up and be removed to swap out the parts. Lost our Q1 from Ford for a year. PITA

 

[j_martin]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

A lot of Astro vans were noted for a propensity to blow the rear transmission seal and thoroughly coat both the hit catalytic converter and the plastic fuel tank with hot flammable oil. Yes, many burned, and some children died that I know of, but I never heard of a recall.

I had one let go about 150 miles into a 3000 mile vacation trip with a van full of kids. First indication was the rear window fogging up with oil. Stopped in Fargo, bought parts, put the front end up on the rocks in a parking lot and fixed it right there before I proceeded. If it had caught fire at freeway speeds, the odds that I could have gotten it stopped and evacuated would have been about zilch to unbelievable.

No matter what you drive, situational awareness is a life saver.

John

 

[JB]

Re: Auto recalls must be the latest trend

Well, I am very much in favor of "zero defects" QA and QC, but I question how QC is going to identify a one-in-ten-thousand after 50,000 miles failure without making an entry level vehicle cost $80.000.

"Perfection absolutely required and damn the cost" is a road to oblivion.