Vehicle Recall Data by Brand. (Alarming!)

[Yorkie]

Not trying to score points or start an argument, but I’ve said before on the forum that buying cars (or clothing, tools, domestic appliances or whatever), and forming opinions and perceptions about brands based on such things as performance, reliability, and build quality tend to be emotional about our feelings for certain brands rather than purely rational perceptions underpinned by facts. In particular, the view that vehicles, domestic appliances, power tools designed or built in certain countries – Germany, Sweden, Japan or wherever, are inherently more reliable and better built. Also, that more expensive brands are per se, better quality.

I’ve previously said that part of the higher retail price of so-called ‘prestige brands’ is the premium paid for ‘what the market will stand’ for that brand – it is not a direct correlation between production costs and retail price, and there is the added downside that many prestige cars have added complexity which doesn't go hand in hand with better reliability - it only serves to increase the risk of malfunctions.

Irrational brand perceptions are a fact whether it’s cars or other consumer durables, or fast-moving–consumer-goods. (FMCG). Nothing will change of course - people on or off the forum will still be firmly fixed in their perceptions and where cars are concerned, few will bother to check such things as the VOSA website or J.D. Power ownership survey to find out more about the car they’ve set their mind upon. A car is a wasting asset, and much more is made of 'residual values' and cost of ownership than matters. It's just a convenient nail on which to hang an emotional decision as a wholly rational one. (In marketing terms, it 'dissipates cognitive dissonance' - an uncomfortable feeing that we might not be making a wise decision. A car is an expensive acquisition, and we don't want to think it's not a wise one).

I’d previously stated that the reason that some firms create separate brands is that their brand image is so firmly fixed in the mass market that no matter how much they tried, they could not move that brand up-market. It's why Nissan created their 'Infinity' luxury vehicle division, launched in America in 1989, now Infiniti-branded vehicles are market in 15 countries including the UK. It would have been impossible to move the Nissan brand upmarket from being a volume producer of family cars such as the best-selling highly successful Quashqui 'crossover' vehicle.

I also mentioned Toyota creating the Lexus brand as a separate business stream for the same reason - the Toyoa brand just wouldn't have chimed as a prestige car maker. Out of curiosity, I’ve just checked the current list of recalls in the UK and the nature of defects for which cars have been recalled. All of those recalls listed are from 2013/14, though the cars may be older. They’re in alphabetical order and it will be noted that ‘prestige brands’ - Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Porsche, Mercs, Maseratis, BMWs, Range Rover, Jaguar, oh, and yes – Lexus, feature prominently in the list:

Lexus GSLexus GS: Towing ball can fracture.
Lexus GS300: The brake master cylinder may fail.
Lexus GS300: The engine may stall or not re-start. Due to the inflexibility of the material of the fuel pump wiring harness, it is possible that as a result of internal movement of the fuel suction plate the connector terminal may fail.
Lexus GS450h and GS460: The Engine may fail. One or more engine cylinder valve springs may fail which will cause abnormal noise and rough engine performance. In the worst case, it is possible for the engine to fail and stop suddenly while the vehicle is in motion.
Lexus IS200: Lexus IS200 wiper arm may fail.
Lexus IS220d: The brake master cylinder may fail.

I'd assert that these serious defects are inconsistent with most people’s highly subjective perceptions of the Lexus brand, or of it’s parent company Toyota for that matter.

Other makes and models are listed below in alpha order - not every recall is listed - the full list is at the link below. It will be noted that the nature of defects are often quite serious and could prove fatal. Catching fire, losing wheels, air bags going off, roofs coming off, insecure windscreens. (I wouldn’t be very chuffed if I’d fobbed out for a ‘chav chariot’ like the Land Rover Evoque and it was recalled due to a risk of catching fire). Several of the cars are high performance cars and (it seems to me) are likely to be tested to their limits by senile boy racers of the 'Jeremy Clarkson tendency'.

Alfa Romeo 8C: Tie rod failure could result in the driver losing control of the car.
Aston Martin DB9: The accelerator pedal may break on some DB9 cars. Suspension arm bolt failure may affect directional control.
Bentley Brooklands: due to a build up of corrosion, that the "Flying B" mascot may not retract correctly when struck. If the vehicle is involved in a collison with a pedestrian and the mascot does not retract correctly, the pedestrian may suffer additional injuries
Bentley Continental GT: Possible loss of rear brake.
BMW 1 Series:The Fuel Filter Heater can overheat and may lead to a car fire.
Cadillac CTS: Braking efficiency may be compromised Front brake hoses at the brake caliper could suffer excessive corrosion to the fittings, as a result of corrosive content of the road salt within snow or water, Should the hose detach or rupture without warning, then the vehicle braking distance will increase, which could cause a collision.
Caterham S3: Potential loss of steering control.
Caterham Super 7: Possible rear hub and brake caliper detachment. Under certain driving conditions that the intermediate steering shaft might disconnect from the steering column. Should this occur loss of steering control would result.
Chevrolet Corvette: Roof panel may detach.
Daihatsu Fourtrak: Possible fire risk.In the worst case, leakage of fuel evaporative gas vapour into the vehicle interior may occur, resulting in the potential of fire in the presence of an ignition source.
Daihatsu Gran Move: The air bag on some Daihatsu Gran Move cars may deploy without warning.
Ford Fiesta: Exhaust fumes may enter the passenger compartment or there could be a fire in the engine compartment
Jaguar XFJaguar XF: Fuel leak can lead to a car fire
Jeep Cherokee: The front airbags may deploy unexpectedly
Lamborghini Gallardo: Rear brake discs may come off. Power steering leak can cause a fire
Land Rover Defender: seat belts may fail.
Land Rover Defender: The transfer box output shaft may not be to specification. This can allow oil to leak between the output shaft and the drive flange. This can result in oil entering the parking brake drum and contaminating the brake linings, which can affect the parking brake efficiency.
Land Rover Discovery 3 TDV6: Fire may occur
Land Rover Freelander 2: Fuel leak can lead to a car fire
Land Rover Range Rover windscreens may not be secure
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: Fuel leak can lead to a car fire
Maserati Granturismo: steering may fail
Maserati Quattroporte: Loss of vehicle control.
Mercedes-Benz C Class: The engine may cut out on some Mercedes C Class cars
Mercedes Benz C Class Diesels: May leak diesel fuel on to the road
Mercedes-Benz G ClassMercedes G Class: May deploy a serrated rail at the same time as the passenger airbag
Porsche 911 Turbo: Wheel may detach
Porsche 911 Carrera: tailpipe may fall off
Porsche 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S: Could catch fire
Rolls Royce Ghost: Water pump could lead to a fire
Subaru Outback: Brakes may fail.
Subaru Outback: Loss of CVT gearbox oil may cause loss of drive or danger to other road users.
Suzuki Alto: The air conditioning unit in some Suzuki Alto cars can overheat and catch fire
Suzuki Alto: Brake lights may fail.
Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 Petrol: Drive belt tensioner may break.
Suzuki Grand Vitara: Loss of steering assistance.
Suzuki Jimny: Loss of steering assistance.
Volvo C30: Fluid may leak into wiring harness which may cause fire. Clutch pedal mechanism may fail.
Volvo C30: Brakes may not perform as expected.
Volvo C30: Support member may crack.
VW Tiguan: Fuel leak
VW Eos: Fuel leak
VW Golf: Feul leak.
VW Scirocco: Fuel leak
VW UP!: Side airbag diagnostics not working.

Source of data: http://www.recalluk.com/latest/car-recall.aspx

VOSA Recall Website where you can check if particular models have had an recalls is here:

http://dft.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/default.asp?tx=VOSA

Other product recalls (from Poundland USB charger defects to Sainsbury’s fluffy toys!) can be found here:

http://www.recalluk.com/latest/recalls.aspx

Interminably lengthy as usual, but hopefully, of interest to someone out there!

[Retired]

Hi,

Certainly very interesting to me David; I'm no longer a "petrol head" but it pays to check as much as possible before handing over money as I'm currently doing before buying our next new car.

It's very alarming to see so many faults listed which potentially could prove lethal not only to the actual car occupants but if a car goes out of control at the maximum legal limit here in the UK at 70 mph who knows what the consequences could be?

A car is only a machine when all is said and done; it only takes one item to fail unexpectedly to cause a serious accident. Not only cars but fridges and washing machines etc have been known to cause fires.

In recent times it appears Toyota could not produce a reliable car with the huge numbers supplied faulty resulting in endless recalls; both our Aygo's have been excellent little cars though.

I like to keep things as simple as possible; I don't want a car with every must have gimmick installed which I'll never use nor even know how to use; our washing machine is a bog standard cheap Beko which when it finally breaks down will go for recycling and another cheap Beko bought to replace it. I'm only considering a 4WD vehicle not for show but because of the terrain where we live especially in winter; I used to go to work on a pedal cycle in all weather so any car is welcome.

Kind regards, Col.

[Refugee]

I had a Beko freezer with a traffic light style display that worked as expected when I first plugged the thing in from new. Just under two years later it was defrosting onto the floor while still showing green.
The brand is on a lifetime ban from my home as not trustworthy.

[Alistair D]

Here is another one to add to the car list.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26148711

Al

[Retired]

Hi,

So far Refugee our Beko washing machine is behaving itself but anything with "traffic lights" are usually red for me?

Thanks for the Toyota link Al. The more kit that is added to a car is just more kit to go wrong; software is unreliable. Circuit boards are usually rubbish; central heating boiler; Clarke lathe and washing machine circuit boards are all a huge rip off which I've suffered recently; a circuit board for a washing machine can easily cost £100 but the washing machine as a whole only costs under £200? Perhaps circuit boards are designed to fail immediately after the warranty runs out?

Kind regards, Col.

[Radio Fixer]

Maybe the more sophisticated the car the more likely it is to have recalls? Lets all go back to the Morris Minor Estate with a nice bit of Oak to look after

Its pretty frightening really!

Gary

[pwdrive]

I thought it was ash...

Lawrence.

[Radio Fixer]

Was wood ...

Gary

[Yorkie]

Was wood ...

Gary

Yes, definitely tree wood!

Basically, a Wendy House on wheels.

Not content with designing a car with wings that rusted through, they confounded the felony by adding woodwork which got wet rot and served no useful purpose.

It was ash actually, as are the frames in Morgan cars.

(Fascinating thing about Morgan cars is that if the owner crashes one, it goes back to the factory and the same guy who built it repairs it). Interesting factory to have a tour round is Morgan. No power tools - the ash frames are all fashioned by hand with planes and spokeshaves, brace and bits, screwdrivers, and hand-held sandpaper. Or at least they were when I went round some years ago. They don't do anything for me, but it's wonderful to see someone with a few hammers and a pair of tinsnips cut out and fashion a wing from a piece of mild steel sheet, marked out in chalk using a template. No ten ton presses - just skill, hand tools and a good eye.