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: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 23 2018, @09:33PM (2 children)
It's economics. Say household appliances should be repairable but that relies on the entire supply chain remaining viable and ignores massive improvements in efficiency. Are we going to compare a modern condenser clothes dryer with something built in the 70s? You would have replaced everything but the chassis by now and the savings in electricity alone make up for the cost of replacement. What about repairing that old VAX machine at $60 an hour plus parts when a Raspberry PI is more powerful for $25? Innovation happens incrementally which is why we're saturated with different models of every device at different price points.
For industrial uses, there's plenty of DOS stuff still running on 486 chips powering all kinds of machinery. We'll reach a plateau where we return to that for consumer products too. Certainly better than Apple obsoleting perfectly serviceable peripherals every 18 months when they get rid of yet another port.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 23 2018, @09:36PM
To clarify I wasn't suggesting we return to 486's and DOS. Although there's the beginnings of some weird tech S&M cult right there.
(Score: 2) by Arik on Tuesday September 25 2018, @05:52AM
If it's a VAX I can get working using software, then it's a better deal than a pi that relies on blobs, no matter what the dollar pricing attached.
That's not comparing apples to oranges, it's comparing apples to poisoned apples.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?