Incident: Clutch Pressure Plate Overheating Recall for Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator

Published Date: 2020-03-11

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident involving the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator's clutch pressure plates overheating was reported on March 11, 2020 [Article 97055]. Therefore, the estimated timeline for the software failure incident would be around February or early March 2020.
System The software failure incident mentioned in the article did not involve a software system failure. Therefore, the answer to the question is 'unknown'.
Responsible Organization 1. The software failure incident in this case was caused by the clutch pressure plates in the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles overheating, leading to potential transmission case cracks and fire hazards [97055].
Impacted Organization 1. Owners of Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles with manual transmission [97055]
Software Causes unknown
Non-software Causes 1. Overheating clutch pressure plates in Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models [97055]
Impacts 1. The software failure incident led to the risk of clutch pressure plates overheating in Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles, potentially causing fractured pieces to crack the transmission case, which could lead to a fire hazard if debris comes in contact with ignition and fuel sources [97055]. 2. Owners of the affected vehicles may experience sudden power loss and signs of the problem such as a burnt clutch smell or extra clutch pedal travel when shifting into another gear [97055].
Preventions 1. Implementing thorough testing procedures during the development phase to detect any potential issues with the clutch pressure plates and transmission components [97055]. 2. Conducting regular quality control checks on the manufacturing process to ensure that all components meet safety standards and specifications [97055]. 3. Providing timely software updates or patches to address any identified vulnerabilities or risks in the clutch pressure plates and transmission systems [97055].
Fixes 1. The software failure incident involving the clutch pressure plates in Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles could potentially be fixed through a recall and repair process initiated by the parent automaker, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles [Article 97055].
References 1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) [Article 97055]

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring unknown a) The article does not mention any previous incidents of the same software failure happening again within the same organization (Jeep/Fiat Chrysler Automobiles). Therefore, there is no information available to suggest a similar incident has happened before with their products and services. b) The article does not mention any similar incidents happening at other organizations or with their products and services. Hence, there is no information provided to indicate that a similar incident has happened before at multiple organizations.
Phase (Design/Operation) design Unknown
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system (a) within_system: The software failure incident related to the clutch pressure plates overheating in Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles is a within_system failure. The issue originates from within the vehicles themselves, specifically with the clutch pressure plates that could overheat and potentially lead to transmission case damage and even a fire risk [97055].
Nature (Human/Non-human) non-human_actions (a) The software failure incident in this case is not related to non-human actions but rather to a mechanical issue with the clutch pressure plates in Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles. The problem is described as the clutch pressure plates overheating, leading to fractured pieces that could crack the transmission case and potentially cause a fire hazard. This issue is a result of a mechanical fault rather than non-human actions [97055]. (b) The software failure incident is not attributed to human actions but rather to a manufacturing or design issue with the clutch pressure plates in the Jeep vehicles. The article does not mention any human error or intentional actions contributing to the problem. The focus is on the mechanical aspect of the clutch pressure plates overheating and causing potential safety risks [97055].
Dimension (Hardware/Software) hardware (a) The software failure incident mentioned in the article is related to hardware. The issue described involves the clutch pressure plates in Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles overheating, which could lead to fractured pieces of the part cracking the transmission case. This hardware-related problem could potentially result in a fire risk and sudden loss of power in the vehicles [97055].
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) unknown The article does not mention any software failure incident related to a malicious or non-malicious objective. Therefore, the information regarding the objective of the software failure incident is unknown.
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) unknown The article does not mention any software failure incident related to poor or accidental decisions. Therefore, the intent of the software failure incident in this case is unknown.
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) unknown The article does not mention any software failure incident related to development incompetence or accidental factors. Therefore, the information to answer this question is 'unknown'.
Duration unknown The article does not mention any software failure incident related to the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator recall. Therefore, the duration of the software failure incident in this case is unknown.
Behaviour crash (a) crash: The article mentions that those who experience the problem may also experience the car suddenly losing power, which indicates a crash scenario where the system loses its state and does not perform its intended functions [Article 97055]. (b) omission: The article does not specifically mention any instances where the system omitted to perform its intended functions at an instance(s). (c) timing: The article does not indicate any issues related to the system performing its intended functions too late or too early. (d) value: The article does not provide information about the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. (e) byzantine: The article does not describe any inconsistent responses or interactions by the system. (f) other: The behavior described in the article falls under the "crash" category, where the system suddenly loses power, leading to a failure in performing its intended functions [Article 97055].

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception None None
Communication None None
Application None None

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence theoretical_consequence The article does not mention any software failure incident related to death, harm, basic needs, property damage, or delays. The consequence discussed in the article is related to the potential risk of a fire due to the clutch pressure plate overheating in Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles, which could lead to the transmission case cracking and debris coming in contact with ignition and fuel sources, posing a fire hazard [97055]. This falls under the category of "theoretical_consequence" as there is a potential risk of fire but no actual incidents of fire or harm reported.
Domain transportation The software failure incident reported in Article #97055 is related to the transportation industry. The article discusses a recall issued by Jeep for certain models of the Wrangler and Gladiator due to a potential issue with the clutch pressure plates overheating, which could lead to the transmission case cracking and potentially causing a fire. This incident directly impacts the transportation industry as it involves vehicles that are used for moving people and goods [97055].

Sources

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