A recall is issued in the US automotive industry when a manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ) deems that a vehicle or specific piece of equipment poses an unacceptable risk to safety or does not comply with minimal safety requirements. Manufacturers are required to address the issue by doing one of the following: fixing it, replacing it, giving a refund, or even buying the car back.
The frequency of over-the-air (OTA) updates is rising as more new cars come equipped with wireless connections. To resolve product recalls, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, and GM have deployed OTA updates. Isn’t it time to stop focusing on the recall’s negative implications given that so many automakers are providing OTA updates?
No longer remember! Why don’t automakers just announce that an upgrade has been approved by the NHTSA?
In the digital world, regular software upgrades are an essential component of the service concept across businesses. Manufacturers can take advantage of a complex system architecture with interconnected control units and system functions by using OTA updates as a practical way to quickly deliver system fixes and enhancements.
Many connected car technologies are designed to operate in a distributed fashion, necessitating network connectivity with other systems. In the automotive industry, these vehicles are beginning to replace the old standard. Processes like vehicle diagnostics and updating the software in vehicle electronic control units can be done from a remote location through the internet and without having vehicles present at the service station thanks to significant advancements in automotive electronic systems and wireless communication technology.
The NHTSA releases data sets regarding recalls in the US. In recent years, there have been an unheard-of amount of product recalls involving automobiles. It’s interesting that there was subsequent low consumer recall compliance . This raises concerns about the NHTSA’s and other regulatory organizations’ responsibilities for guaranteeing safety in the age of new technology that can produce remedies.
The purpose of OTA updates In an integrated system, connected vehicles mix hardware and software components. According to A study in the Journal of Business Research, stock investors react to auto recalls by selling down shares on average by.22 percent, or $81 million less. OTA updates have been adopted by several car manufacturers as a cutting-edge replacement or repair delivery mechanism that eliminates the need to bring a vehicle into a service facility. It is obvious that vehicle recalls involving live service workers manually repairing a vehicle are expensive. Instead, service centers have access to updates that contain the same information at the same time as an OTA update, giving customers more flexibility.
OTA updates assist automakers to achieve reduce vehicle warranty and recall costs and provide a chance to perform legally and safety-required corrective actions more quickly, efficiently, and in a way that benefits the consumer than traditional recall procedures.
How does a car manufacturer respond when a product flaw is discovered and a recall is decided? Managers are typically held responsible for recent product recalls, but there are other equally significant stakeholders, including suppliers, employees, competitors, the media, and regulators. It is becoming more wise for automakers to use a stakeholder management strategy that views a recall as a process rather than a threat to their own existence.
implications from the standpoint of the manufacturer third-party liability can arise since OTAs may have legal repercussions if they do not operate effectively, cause malfunctions, or are not supplied in time to address urgent issues. It has been suggested that insurance-based is the best option for all parties since claimants may have difficulty proving liability with OTAs, particularly from an evidential standpoint.
OTA VS. RECALL: OWNERS MIGHT NOT EVEN BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM As a result of automobiles growing smarter, the majority of new cars currently on the road are controlled by software rather than mechanical components. Many OTA software upgrades are officially classified as having safety flaws, thus they are distributed directly to drivers without much control or accountability from the authorities.
Randamp;D is creating OTA possibilities and advancements. One intelligent scheduling system, for instance, makes use of an deep reinforcement learning (DRL) agent in a digital twin setting. In order to slow down the deterioration of fleet health, the DRL agent can learn and simulate various scenarios in order to determine the appropriate update sequence based on the monthly temperature profile, traffic congestion, and many other criteria. When there is an update, the DRL agent evaluates the circumstance and suggests the best course of action to reduce vehicle failures and keep the fleet healthy.
Due to their great energy conversion efficiency and environmental friendliness, electric vehicles (EV) are regarded as the future of the automotive industry. Prior to deploying the OTA update for EVs, it is important to carefully analyze the updated battery management system parameters to optimize impact and minimize the possibility of introducing unfavorable behavior.
Ford: A Case Study of a Recall According to Consumer Reports, Ford recalled 48,924 Mustang Mach-Es in June due to the possibility that they could lose power while moving or fail to start. The vehicle’s battery contactor, which may overheat once the car has been connected to a DC fast charger, as well as what Ford refers to as wide-open pedal events, or fully pressing the accelerator pedal to the floor for swift acceleration, are the root causes of the issue.
The contactor could overheat and stay open, which would result in the car losing power and perhaps crashing. If this occurs, a powertrain malfunction warning light will turn on on the dashboard, and the vehicle’s gauge cluster behind the steering wheel will show Stop Safely Now.
Ford prepared an over-the-air (OTA) software update for the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) and Secondary On-Board Diagnostic Control Module (SOBDMC) software. The software update was also available to owners at a Ford dealer. The carmaker reported that this recall has not resulted in any accidents or injuries. Ford’s customer support line is 866-436-7332, and the company has mailed notices to owners of affected vehicles.
After a string of engine fires that occurred even while the ignition switches were off, Ford advised owners of several of its most well-known internal combustion-powered SUVs to park their vehicles outside earlier this month. Additionally, three Mustang Mach-E owners have sued Ford in federal court, claiming that Ford was aware of a design fault in the 2021–2022 model Mustangs that might cause the vehicles to abruptly lose power while in motion.
CONCLUSIONS REGARDING A RECALL Recalls happen frequently, however with the introduction of OTAs, modest changes seem less surprising and difficult to the consumer.
A hurdle for the automotive industry is the continuous and secure OTA updates because of organizational, regulatory, and technical issues. The NHTSA 0 recall process will boost manufacturer transparency and allow NHTSA to adapt its recall procedure to match both current and future vehicle models.
How do you determine whether your vehicle is subject to an active recall if you live in the US? If your car is subject to a recall that needs to be addressed, NHTSA 1 will let you know. If you enter your vehicle’s 17-digit VIN into the NHTSA website and no recalls are listed, your automobile doesn’t currently have a recall.
The NHTSA advises returning frequently because automakers frequently issue recalls, particularly for many older vehicles.
Do you value the unique reporting and cleantech news coverage on CleanTechnica? Think about signing up as a patron on NHTSA 2 or as a CleanTechnica Member, Supporter, Technician, or Ambassador.
