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Number of vehicles recalled by the automajors in India has crossed one million in the last three years, according to a report.
The development comes after the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM’s) voluntary code on vehicle recall, which came into effect in July 2012.
There were at least eight recalls in the six months from January to June, this year, including 60,000 XUV500s model by Mahindra and Mahindra for the upgrade of the side curtain airbag software and 33,098 Altos by Maruti Suzuki India for inspection and replacement of right hand door latch assembly, according to a data published by Autocar Professional.
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Honda, in May this year, recalled three models, Accord for replacement of the driver side airbag inflator and CR-V and Civic for replacement of the passenger side airbag inflator. The last in this series was Nissan Motor India’s Sunny and Micra recall, to rectify engine switch and airbags.
The range of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEMs) recalling their products in the four wheeler segment varies from Maruti Suzuki to Audi India and of the top 10 car makers in India, only Tata Motors and Volkswagen India were the companies not recalled any of its products in the last three years.
SIAM, on July 1, 2012, introduced its Voluntary Code on Vehicle Recall, which advocates the OEMs or the importers in case of imported vehicles, for recalling a defective two-wheeler or four-wheeler from the market.
Autocar stated that Ford, Maruti Suzuki and General Motors are the three companies which made the maximum number of voluntary recalls to rectify the defects.
Ford has made the largest number of recalls, of 3,16,400 vehicles including 2,94,676 units of Figo and Fiesta Classic in August 2012 and September, 2013. Maruti Suzuki India has recalled 2,11,252 units including 10,3767 Swifts and 55,548 Dzires during various periods in last three years for various reasons.
General Motors India made a recall of 1,14,000 Tavera variants to address emissions and specification issues, in July 2013.
Luxury car maker Jaguar Land Rover recalled 517 units of the Jaguar XF diesel variant in September 2013. Audi India made recall of 382 units of Q7 diesel variant in October 2014, for defective vacuum line and 6,758 units of A4 in November 2014 for software updates for deployment of airbags.
In two wheelers, Yamaha Motor India made the highest number of voluntary recalls of 56,182 units including Yamaha Cygnus Ray scooter and YZF-R1 motorcycle. While, Honda Motor Cycle has recalled 11,506 units of its CBR 250 motorcycles for possibility of limited ineffectiveness in front brake application.
Triumph India recalled 34 units of Daytona 675 R model in May, 2015. While there are no mandatory regulations from the government on vehicle recalls if any fault identified in the vehicles manufactured, there are efforts from the semi-official boy Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to introduce a Vehicle Recall Code, which will be notified under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.
According to an earlier report, the Vehicle Recall Code of ARAI would lay down the procedure and obligations for the vehicle recalls.
