Snappy seats sparks Commodore Sportwagon recall

csv8 · 27-12-2010, 04:23 PM

Snappy seats sparks Commodore Sportwagon recall
Barry Park
December 27, 2010 - 2:55PM
Car maker Holden will recall almost 1500 recently facelifted Sportswagons after discovering that the pivots on rear seats could start breaking.

The company has built versatility into its Sportwagon that allows owners to fold the rear seats forward and turn the wagon from a family load-lugger into a large load-carrying shell.

According to Holden, the rear seat’s locking mechanism in the Series II family wagon may have been misaligned while being fitted, and could fail during emergency braking or in a collision with another vehicle, potentially causing injury to passengers.

Advertisement: Story continues below
‘‘In the event of emergency braking or vehicle collision, the rear-seat assembly may not remain in the locked position and may move forward with the motion of the vehicle,’’ an advisory issued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which manages the national vehicle recall process, says.

Holden says the defect was discovered ‘‘internally’’ within the company, with the recall only affecting about 260 vehicles that are already in customers’ hands. Most customers had already contacted dealerships, a spokeswoman for the car maker said today.

According to Holden, the timing of the recall — it was released just before Christmas — could have been better.

‘‘We absolutely recognise that the timing of this issue is unfortunate, but safety is our number one priority, and although this is very much a precautionary measure, it is our duty of care to inform customers as soon as an issue comes to light,’’ the car maker said in a statement released today.

Holden’s VE Series II Commodore range was released in late August, featuring a range of cosmetic changes to the exterior and the introduction of an advanced multimedia system to the interior.

The new model also introduced ethanol-friendly engines to the 3.0-litre V6 and 6.0-litre V8 powerplants, with the 3.6-litre V6 expected to add the same flexibility late in 2011.

glavas · 27-12-2010, 05:05 PM

Okay thanks for the heads up!!!!!

chrisfpv · 27-12-2010, 05:09 PM

Here comes the Holden bashing...

3...2...1...

321Go · 27-12-2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR

Here comes the Holden bashing...

3...2...1...

True. It's getting a bit old of late.
Wish Holden would spend more of their marketing / advertising budget on QC so Ford people wouldn't have something to laugh at.

Brazen · 27-12-2010, 05:18 PM

yes got mine fixed just before christmas, dropped it off to the dealer, went shopping and picked it up after. got a $20 fuel card for the trouble.

TheInterceptor · 27-12-2010, 05:23 PM

Haha, had this problem with the front passenger seat in the soob, hit the skids and had it fly!

But thats ok though...

...after 29 years....

Kaan · 27-12-2010, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazen

yes got mine fixed just before christmas, dropped it off to the dealer, went shopping and picked it up after. got a $20 fuel card for the trouble.

$20 fuel card is nice. Ford should learn from Holden.

Resurrection · 27-12-2010, 05:33 PM

Holden's go better

http://www.recalls.gov.au/content/in.../itemId/952863

http://www.recalls.gov.au/content/in.../itemId/952864

321Go · 27-12-2010, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resurrection

Holden's go better

http://www.recalls.gov.au/content/in.../itemId/952863

http://www.recalls.gov.au/content/in.../itemId/952864

Falcon vs Commodore? Let's have a look. 6 recalls for Falcon models 2005-2010, and 18 recalls for Commodore variants 2005-2010.
And there's a lot more issues that should have been recalled for Commodore 2003-2010 that were, well, swept under the carpet.

glavas · 27-12-2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazen

yes got mine fixed just before christmas, dropped it off to the dealer, went shopping and picked it up after. got a $20 fuel card for the trouble.

Yea I get fuel cards from my dealer every time I get it serviced. But I have spent nearly 300000 at my dealer

NAFairlane · 27-12-2010, 07:08 PM

Atleast this recall got picked up on really quickly. They recalled all the commodore utes to replace the tailgate latches and dealerships are replacing them all the time.

galaxy xr8 · 27-12-2010, 07:33 PM

Fact of the matter is that recall's happen, it happen's to Ford, it happen's to Toyota, it happen's to...........
The bashing only start's when imature people open their mouth.
Recall's happen in product's unlike vehicle's aswell.
Manufacturer's are doing the right thing toward's the consumer as well as themselves, so as long as the problem is sorted and all party's are happy, then I don't see a problem.
We need to be mature about it.

glavas · 27-12-2010, 07:51 PM

God even ferrari had recalls a few months back something about cars catching on fire....

FPV8U · 27-12-2010, 07:57 PM

Never understood the big deal about re-calls TBH atleast it shows they are fixing the problem instead of pretending it isn't there.

Resurrection · 27-12-2010, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPV8U

Never understood the big deal about recalls TBH at least it shows they are fixing the problem instead of pretending it isn't there.

Recalls mean there is a serious issue which could cause injury or death. Hence why it is big deal.

It reflects poorly on any company to have a recall as it demonstrates that either their design or manufacturing processes are not working to prevent such products being sold to the public.

It reflects even more poorly on a company which is aware of a serious issue but does not initiate a product recall. For those too young to remember, I suggest you read the following article;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pi...nk_controversy

pottery beige · 27-12-2010, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glavas

But I have spent nearly 300000 at my dealer

thats a fair bit of stuff to go through...

jpd80 · 27-12-2010, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resurrection

Recalls mean there is a serious issue which could cause injury or death. Hence why it is big deal.

It reflects poorly on any company to have a recall as it demonstrates that either their design or manufacturing processes are not working to prevent such products being sold to the public.

It reflects even more poorly on a company which is aware of a serious issue but does not initiate a product recall. For those too young to remember, I suggest you read the following article;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pi...nk_controversy

^^^^^ This case and the initial decisions on budgeting safety were made over 40 years ago,
it is from another era when all manufacturers used to do the same and that is why applying
today's values to decisions made four decades ago cannot compare with the stonewalling
tactics of Toyota in the USA. The reason they are willingly paying NTSB fines?
They have documented every account of unexplained acceleration and are afraid that
class action suits will subpoena the records, their butt is in a sling big time...

On topic,
Holden has suffered an unfortunate lapse in quality by a supplier, this is a common occurrence
in today's budget conscious world and provided they take precautionary steps all is well.

Windsor220 · 27-12-2010, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaan

$20 fuel card is nice. Ford should learn from Holden.

Learn what?

pottery beige · 27-12-2010, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

^^^^^ This case and the initial decisions on budgeting safety were made over 40 years ago,
it is from another era when all manufacturers used to do the same and that is why applying
today's values to decisions made four decades ago cannot compare with the stonewalling
tactics of Toyota in the USA. The reason they are willingly paying NTSB fines?
They have documented every account of unexplained acceleration and are afraid that
class action suits will subpoena the records, their butt is in a sling big time...

On topic,
Holden has suffered an unfortunate lapse in quality by a supplier, this is a common occurrence
in today's budget conscious world and provided they take precautionary steps all is well.

there is nothing wrong with your balljoints.. FoA.......

glavas · 27-12-2010, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pottery beige

thats a fair bit of stuff to go through...

I bought 4 cars from that dealer.. E2 maloo, ssv wagon, vz Calais ls1 and Vs clubsport then add on service costs extras blah blah now the misses wants a new grange bloody cars are sending me broke haha

jpd80 · 27-12-2010, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pottery beige

there is nothing wrong with your balljoints.. FoA.......

There is a problem of accelerated wear, we have a work Territory based in
Brisbane that has had two sets of ball joints replaced by Ford at no charge.
So long as people have their Territory regularly serviced and inspected, there's no problem.

The question is whether or not Ford is negligent and placing people at risk,
unless you can prove that, you don't have a leg to stand on.

pottery beige · 27-12-2010, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

There is a problem of accelerated wear, we have a work Territory based in
Brisbane that has had two sets of ball joints replaced by Ford at no charge.
So long as people have their Territory regularly serviced and inspected, there's no problem.

The question is whether or not Ford is negligent and placing people at risk,
unless you can prove that, you don't have a leg to stand on.

accelerated wear....

ozrunner · 27-12-2010, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glavas

I bought 4 cars from that dealer.. E2 maloo, ssv wagon, vz Calais ls1 and Vs clubsport then add on service costs extras blah blah now the misses wants a new grange bloody cars are sending me broke haha

Mate, no offence but I don't think you realise you have joined the wrong forum.

TheInterceptor · 27-12-2010, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozrunner

Mate, no offence but I don't think you realise you have joined the wrong forum.

Haha, well it is an enthusiast forum after all.....

jpd80 · 28-12-2010, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pottery beige

accelerated wear....

We get good service from Ford dealerships, they look after our vehicles and we never have a problem.

Bobman · 28-12-2010, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resurrection

It reflects even more poorly on a company which is aware of a serious issue but does not initiate a product recall. For those too young to remember, I suggest you read the following article

I agree. I'd also suggest you check just how many recalls the VT Commodore had from 1997-2000 as well as the transmission-caused fires that burnt out a few VS Commodores (including a police car in Victoria).

Well aware of the Pinto fuel tank and Explorer tyre controversies as well as the Territory ball joint problems, the AU2 Falcon steering rack bolt recall and the BA Falcon rear brake hose issue.

When I was working at Kia several years ago, there were a few recalls that were ongoing and significant. I don't think it's the recall that is bad but more how the company deals with it and how the dealerships treat customers when they book their cars in to have the fault(s) rectified.

Kaan · 28-12-2010, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windsor220

Learn what?

learn to hand out $20 fuel cards when people come to dealers for recall isues

pottery beige · 28-12-2010, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

We get good service from Ford dealerships, they look after our vehicles and we never have a problem.

fair enough.. i would rather burn mine to the ground with everyone inside it....

glavas · 28-12-2010, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozrunner

Mate, no offence but I don't think you realise you have joined the wrong forum.

No??? I had a f6 but I sold it I hated the steering wheel...

Jesmol · 28-12-2010, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

On topic,
Holden has suffered an unfortunate lapse in quality by a supplier, this is a common occurrence
in today's budget conscious world and provided they take precautionary steps all is well.

This is not correct, I work at the supplier that makes these parts and would know if there was a problem.

This is the first time I've heard of this, the way its described it sounds more like a fitment issue in the plant.