Mahindra issues recall for 23,519 Scorpio EX SUVs

Mahindra & Mahindra, in a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange, has said it will recall 23,519 units of its Scorpio EX variant, manufactured between May 2012 and November 2013, to “carry out preventive inspection of some parts.”

It is understood that the recall is for the replacement of a pressure regulating valve. The exercise is limited to only to the Scorpio EX and does not affect other Scorpio variants. The replacement is to be carried out with immediate effect and will be done free of cost, with customers to be contacted by the company and its dealers.

This is the second recall for the EX variant. In December 2013, Mahindra had recalled 985 units (made in October-November 2013). Autocar Professional learns the reason was “a pressure regulating valve may not operate optimally. Should this condition continue, it will lead to a jerk being felt by rear seat passengers.”

This constitutes the third vehicle recall for Mahindra & Mahindra which had, in March 2013, recalled 24,695 units of the XUV500 (W6, W8 variants) for oil seepage from a hose that potentially would lead to a gradual increase in steering effort.

With this latest vehicle recall, the total number of vehicle recalls in India has touched 679,213 units since apex industry body SIAM’s Voluntary Code on Vehicle Recall came into effect on July 2, 2012. Some of these recalls were part of a global exercise. These recalls have been made by 11 OEMs comprising 9 four-wheeler and a couple of two-wheeler manufacturers (see detailed listing below).

In India, there is yet to be a law by the government that makes vehicle recalls mandatory, in case of any technical snag. But SIAM's voluntary recall code has paved the way to a structured vehicle recall exercise in India. It also reflects OEMs’ proactive efforts to address technical issues in their vehicles, as is the industry practice in the West.

In the coming years, India may also get a mandatory recall policy. It is understood that the Ministry of Heavy Industry has constituted a core group under the Inter Ministerial Group on Auto Recall and End of Life to look into the same.