News & Analysis
ABS, Airbags, ESP fail most often
Christoph Hammerschmidt
7/9/2009 12:03 PM EDT
In its current newsletter the organization publishes data from these check-ups. The result: Live-saving systems such as airbags, anti-locking brakes and electronic stability program (ESP) failed most often of all electronic systems covered by these check-ups.
The statistical data Dekra is referring to have been acquired and processed by Fahrzeugsystemdaten GmbH in Dresden, a joint subsidiary of all institutes in Germany authorized to conduct mandatory tests. In all Germany-wide check-ups in 2008, the organizations detected more than 60.000 faults within these systems. The findings become even more alarming by the fact that according to Dekra a high percentage of the cars tested were less than three years old.
"These complaints refer to components designed to increase the safety of the car occupants and of other traffic participants," the newsletter quotes an unnamed Dekra expert. "Electronic components in cars make life safer — but only if they work correctly over the entire lifespan of the respective vehicles."
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mark_w
7/10/2009 5:25 AM EDT
Hmmm, I'm not sure that its correct to conclude that because Dekra see more of the safety-related systems failures, it is true that 'safety-related automotive systems are the most unreliable'.
Firstly, if something like an engine management system fails, the vehicle doesn't get to see Dekra (or their data collector), does it? That's one bias in the data.
Secondly, if what has failed is a 'convenience function' and doesn't have a safety impact (heating, interior lighting), the data collector probably doesn't log it, do they?
So, while I think this data is of great concern, it may not be exactly what you think from the headline that you have given it.
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winki
7/10/2009 6:22 AM EDT
The automotive industy puts more and more electronics into the cars, raising cost and loosing reliability. I don´t think it is the best way, to overcome problems with the suspension by means of electronics as in the A-class instead of a more expensive mechanic with a high degree of built-in safety.
The absolute minimum would be a reliable selfcheck to inform the driver, that ESP (or ABS or whatever) failed.
Is it possible, that mark_w, director, is the CEO of VW and therefore committed to approve what the industry does?
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nickich
7/10/2009 3:46 PM EDT
...until the 'competent Indian engineers' develop that code...
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MASH
7/11/2009 4:39 AM EDT
I think that most of these systems (i.e Electronic based cars systems ) have been tested strongly from the Car manufacturers .. Specially if they have a direct relation to the safety ( Not luxury systems) . But Sometimes the Market needs push the car company to sell the car However they found some (Non-Critical) Bugs.so these (Non-Critical) bugs will make the (data- Collector ) to count them as a Systems (unreliable ones)
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Tippers
7/14/2009 4:56 AM EDT
Is it because there are more faults, or is it because the systems, being more safety critical, are better at (or more rigorous in) detecting them?
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StuRat
7/14/2009 9:09 AM EDT
Tippers is on the point. ABS and airbags are much more rigorously diagnosed than many other automotive systems. Many systems are only tested once an ignition cycle, at key-on. Safety and engine performance critical tasks are diagnosed every second, in many subtasks every tenth of a second.
The data methodology may also be biased against systems that record multiple readings of the same fault.
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