Volvo recalls several
models over automatic emergency braking flaw
The AP (3/18) reports Volvo has issued a recall
covering a number of 2019 models sold in the US “because the automatic
emergency braking system may not detect obstacles and stop the vehicles as
designed.” The automaker “says in government documents that a software-hardware
incompatibility glitch causes the problem. If the system doesn’t work as
intended, it can increase the risk of a crash, Volvo said in documents posted
Wednesday on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.”
Roadshow (3/18, Szymkowski, 1.99M) reports in
documents filed with NHTSA, Volvo “said it will recall 121,605 vehicles for
possible automatic emergency brake failure. Volvo said 2019-2020 S60, V60, V60
Cross Country, S90L, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC40, XC60 and XC90 models are all
included in the recall. In other words, the entire Volvo lineup.”
Consumer Reports (3/18, Barry, 14.23M) says
new hardware being used for the AEB system “might not be compatible with the
software installed on certain vehicles built before March 2020. As a result,
the AEB system might not detect objects or pedestrians.” To fix the problem,
“dealers will update the incompatible software, free of charge.” Cars (3/18, 1.24M) also reports.
NTSB determines probable
causes of fatal March 2018 Tesla crash
In
continuing coverage, Ride (3/2, Wakelin) reports that the NTSB
“held a public board meeting and issued nine new safety recommendations after
its investigation into the fatal crash of a Tesla Model X using Autopilot,
according to its press release.” The NTSB determined that the probable cause of
the accident was the “Autopilot steering the car into the crash attenuator
combined with the driver’s lack of response due to distraction from his cell
phone.” The NTSB “also determined that the driver relied too heavily on
Autopilot, which is a partial self-driving system that requires driver
attention and hands on the wheel at all times.” Four of the nine
recommendations “were made to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration,” and they included “expanding the new car assessment program
for forward collision avoidance systems, evaluating Tesla’s Autopilot-equipped
vehicles for defects, working with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to
evaluate Level 2 automation technologies, and developing standards for these
systems.”
Automobile Magazine (3/3, Lassa, 3.25M)
reports that the NTSB “told Tesla and five other automakers they should limit
use of automated systems to specific conditions for which they are deemed safe,
and to improve monitoring of drivers to make sure they have their hands on the
wheel and are focused on the road, according to the [New York] Times.” The NTSB
also “called on Apple to ban non-emergency use of company-issued devices while
driving and called on other electronics companies to lock drivers out of their
devices, or limit what they can do while behind the wheel.”
