The Basics: Aston Martin is recalling 6,076 cars because of an issue with the vehicles' door locks. The vehicles include: the 2010-2015 Aston Martin DB9, 2010-2012 DBS, 2010-2016 Rapide, 2010-2016 V8 Vantage, 2012 Virage, 2014-2016 Vanquish, 2011-2016 V12 Vantage, and 2012-2013 V12 Zagato.
The Problem: The affected cars, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), come with interior door unlocking components that may not function properly when the car is locked from the outside. This may result in an occupant being trapped inside the vehicle.
Injuries/Deaths: None reported.
The Fix: Aston Martin dealers will disable the vehicles' double locking feature by reprogramming the mechanism's software at no charge.
If you own one: Aston Martin will notify owners with the recall expected to begin in August.
Related Video:
The Problem: The affected cars, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), come with interior door unlocking components that may not function properly when the car is locked from the outside. This may result in an occupant being trapped inside the vehicle.
Injuries/Deaths: None reported.
The Fix: Aston Martin dealers will disable the vehicles' double locking feature by reprogramming the mechanism's software at no charge.
If you own one: Aston Martin will notify owners with the recall expected to begin in August.
Related Video:
Description of the Noncompliance: The subject vehicles contain a full locking system software, which according to an interpretation letter issued by NHTSA, does not meet certain door lock requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 206, Door locks and door retention components (49 C.F.R §571.206). In the subject vehicles, each door is equipped with a locking mechanism with an operating means from the interior of the vehicle. However, when the full locking system is mobilised (by double locking the vehicle), this disengages the interior operating means for unlocking the door locking mechanism. As such, the full locking system is an effective anti-theft measure.
FMVSS 1 : 206 - Door locks and door retention components
FMVSS 2 : NR
Description of the Safety Risk: In an affected vehicle, where the full locking system has been activated from the exterior, there is a risk that occupants are unable to unlock the doors from the inside of the vehicle. In relation to our 4-door sports cars (Rapide and Rapide S), this risk is the same as if a person were in a vehicle in which the child locks were engaged. However, all our vehicles have an acoustic warning device (i.e. horn), which can still be activated from the interior of the vehicle when the ignition is switched off and the full locking system is activated. Furthermore, some vehicles are fitted with an alarm system with interior detection, which is able to detect an occupant's movement and will activate the vehicle's alarm if the full locking mechanism is activated and occupants are detected inside the vehicle.
Description of the Cause : At the end of September 2015, Aston Martin received a copy of the NHTSA 2007 interpretation letter addressed to Keykert USA. In that letter NHTSA deemed that a certain theft deterring double-lock function does not meet the requirements of FMVSS No.206.
Aston Martin immediately conducted an investigation to analyse the functionality of the full locking system in its vehicles in the USA, and to determine if the condition – which is compliant with European standards, was non-compliant with the United States' Door Lock requirements of 49 CFR § 571.206. Until then, we firmly believed we were fully compliant with both requirements, given they are worded identically.
Identification of Any Warning that can Occur: an acoustic warning device (i.e. horn), which can still be activated from the interior of the vehicle when the ignition is switched off and the full locking system is activated. Furthermore, some vehicles are fitted with an alarm system with interior detection, which is able to detect an occupant's movement and will activate the vehicle's alarm if the full locking mechanism is activated and occupants are detected inside the vehicle.
FMVSS 1 : 206 - Door locks and door retention components
FMVSS 2 : NR
Description of the Safety Risk: In an affected vehicle, where the full locking system has been activated from the exterior, there is a risk that occupants are unable to unlock the doors from the inside of the vehicle. In relation to our 4-door sports cars (Rapide and Rapide S), this risk is the same as if a person were in a vehicle in which the child locks were engaged. However, all our vehicles have an acoustic warning device (i.e. horn), which can still be activated from the interior of the vehicle when the ignition is switched off and the full locking system is activated. Furthermore, some vehicles are fitted with an alarm system with interior detection, which is able to detect an occupant's movement and will activate the vehicle's alarm if the full locking mechanism is activated and occupants are detected inside the vehicle.
Description of the Cause : At the end of September 2015, Aston Martin received a copy of the NHTSA 2007 interpretation letter addressed to Keykert USA. In that letter NHTSA deemed that a certain theft deterring double-lock function does not meet the requirements of FMVSS No.206.
Aston Martin immediately conducted an investigation to analyse the functionality of the full locking system in its vehicles in the USA, and to determine if the condition – which is compliant with European standards, was non-compliant with the United States' Door Lock requirements of 49 CFR § 571.206. Until then, we firmly believed we were fully compliant with both requirements, given they are worded identically.
Identification of Any Warning that can Occur: an acoustic warning device (i.e. horn), which can still be activated from the interior of the vehicle when the ignition is switched off and the full locking system is activated. Furthermore, some vehicles are fitted with an alarm system with interior detection, which is able to detect an occupant's movement and will activate the vehicle's alarm if the full locking mechanism is activated and occupants are detected inside the vehicle.
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