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Coding Error Sends 2019 Subaru Ascents to the Car Crusher:
Usually, news of an automotive-related software issue involves an error like last week's GM recall of 1 million SUVs and pickups because of a steering defect in their electric power-steering module. GM stated that the defect can cause a momentary loss of power steering followed by its sudden return, which can lead to an accident, and already has in about 30 known cases. GM says a software update to the module available from its dealers will fix the problem.
But a software remedy can't solve Subaru's issue with 293 of its 2019 Ascent SUVs. All 293 of the SUVs that were built in July will be scrapped because they are missing critical spot welds.
According to Subaru's recall notice [PDF] filed with the U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the welding robots at the Subaru Indiana Automotive plant in Lafayette, Ind., were improperly coded, which meant the robots omitted the spot welds required on the Ascents' B-pillar. Consumer Reports states that the B-pillar holds the second-row door hinges. As a result, the strength of the affected Ascents' bodies may be reduced, increasing the possibility of passenger injuries in a crash.
Subaru indicated in the recall that "there is no physical remedy available; therefore, any vehicles found with missing welds will be destroyed." Luckily, only nine Ascents had been sold, and those customers are going to receive new vehicles. The rest were on dealer lots or in transit.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by mhajicek on Sunday September 23 2018, @02:28PM (4 children)
A far bigger issue than the robot progammer missing some welds is the quality control system that didn't notice. That means there could be dozens of other unnoticed defects.
The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek
(Score: 2, Informative) by Acabatag on Sunday September 23 2018, @07:27PM (2 children)
You don't 'inspect' quality into a product after it has been produced. You design quality into it. That is the modern mantra of quality. QC inspectors are somewhat of an an-acronym these days.
(Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 23 2018, @11:38PM
LOL. That's not the real world and you know it. [teepublic.com] In this case, unless someone caught the problem, Subaru were looking at a very expensive recall. I think you meant "anachronism", not "acronym". See, you didn't design the quality in there did you? Good thing you have me doing QC on your comment ;P
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday September 24 2018, @07:28PM
Think QA not QC. You don't control quality. You assure quality.
Yes, you design quality into the product.
But QA tests ensure that the expected quality is actually there. You might not need to inspect every individual unit. Even statistical random testing of some units might be sufficient to catch a breakdown in quality.
Despite a quality design, humans cause quality problems. MBAs say can't we replace this steel reinforcement strut with plastic? Assembly line workers screw off. Even robots are vulnerable to the humans who don't instruct them to spot weld properly.
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(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday September 24 2018, @07:15PM
If a defect is unnoticed, does it really exist?
If a tree falls in the forest . . .
If nobody experiencing the defect remains alive to report the defect, then can that qualify as "unnoticed"?
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