Massive Aston Martin Recall
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| Aston Martin Vantage Recalled for Accelerator Pedal Danger |
CONSEQUENCE:
If the accelerator pedal arm breaks, the engine will return to idle and the driver will be unable to maintain or increase engine speed, increasing the risk of a crash.
No doubt about it. Aston Martin makes some remarkable motor vehicles. Now they are remarkable in a different way.
While the quantity is usually low, the prices for an Aston Martin (think James Bond's first movie car) are high. Now it looks like they have the distinction of recalling a higher percentage of all their cars than any other manufacturer in recall history.
According to Automotive News reports, the company discovered a Chinese sub-supplier was using counterfeit plastic material in a part that affects the accelerator pedal operation, making it a potentially deadly defect.
All of its left-hand-driven models built since November 2007 and all right-hand-drive vehicles built since May 2012 are being recalled - and that's about 75% of all vehicles Aston Martin built in that time frame, they report.
Recalled models include the Vantage, DB9, BDS, Rapide, Vantage Coupe and others.
It turns out that a Chinese subcontractor that molds the affected accelerator pedal arms was using counterfeit plastic material supplied by another Chinese company, according to documents filed with US federal safety investigators. The result is that the accelerator pedal arm may break, causing the high-performance car to suddenly go to "engine idle" which can cause the driver to lose control.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Known nationwide as a leading Lemon Law attorney, Ronald L. Burdge has represented literally thousands of consumers in "lemon" lawsuits and actively co-counsels and coaches other Consumer Law attorneys. From 2005 through 2018, attorney Ronald L. Burdge has been named as the only Lemon Law Ohio Super Lawyer by Law and Politics magazine and Thomson Reuters Corp., Professional Division. Burdge restricts his practice to Lemon Law and Consumer Law cases. The Ohio Super Lawyer results are published annually in the January issue of Cincinnati Magazine. Ronald L. Burdge was named Consumer Law Trial Lawyer of the Year 2004 by the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the nation's largest organization of consumer law private and government attorneys. "Your impact on the auto industry has been magnified many times over because of the trail you blazed for others," stated NACA's Executive Director, Will Ogburn. Burdge has represented thousands of consumers in Ohio, Kentucky and elsewhere since 1978 and is a frequent lecturer to national, state and local Bar Associations and Judicial organizations. Burdge is admitted to Ohio's state and federal courts, Kentucky's state courts, and Indiana's federal courts. Other court admissions are on a "pro hac" temporary, case by cases basis.