- Aston Martin has issued three separate recalls for the DBX crossover, impacting a total of 3,632 vehicles in the U.S. Thankfully, no injuries or accidents have been reported so far.
- The first two recalls address electrical issues that could stall the engine and faulty oil cooler hoses that risk a sudden oil pressure loss and engine damage.
- The final recall targets a limited number of DBXs where loose fasteners on the front propeller shaft might create noise, vibration, and potentially disable front-wheel drive.
The DBX has become a problem child for Aston Martin this week, facing not one, not two, but three recalls. In total, these campaigns impact 3,632 vehicles in the U.S., though Aston Martin has not yet received any reports of injuries or accidents resulting from these issues.
Recall No1: Loose Electrical Cables
The largest of these recalls affects 2,902 DBX luxury crossovers due to loose electrical cables in the battery fuse box. This problem could lead to an engine stall or a loss of headlights and possibly power steering.
According to the NHSTA, some lucky customers got to enjoy the thrill of a battery warning message flashing on their instrument cluster, adding a dash of excitement to their driving experience. Aston even hinted at the possibility of your car emitting smoke in the boot or treating you to an unpleasant odor, just to keep things interesting.
Dealers will address the problem by removing the three affected cables from the threaded studs and conducting a thorough inspection of the fuses and cables for any signs of damage. If any damage is detected, the affected parts will be replaced accordingly. Furthermore, serrated nuts will be substituted with a flat nut, flat washer, and a spring washer, with torque settings increased to 12Nm.
Recall No2: Oil Cooler Hose May Burst
The second recall concerns a hose for the oil cooler that may burst, leading to a sudden loss of oil pressure and potential engine damage. It was first noticed due to a failure in the field, and it sounds like it was a pretty scary scenario. On July 4, 2023, an owner noticed oil level, and oil pressure warning lights on their dash, as well smoke coming from the engine bay.
Read: Aston Martin Forgot To Add Headliner Foam Blocks In The DBX During Assembly
That’s never a good sign, and prompted Aston Martin to investigate. It determined that the vehicle in question’s oil cooler hose split while it was in motion, leading to the dramatic scene. It reached out to its supplier, Imperial Auto Industries, to get to the bottom of the problem.
Ultimately, it determined that the supplier changed the process for wrapping oil cooler hoses. That could result in pit and pin marks forming on the inner wall of the component, which could ultimately lead them to fail at a lower pressure ratings than specified.
That could lead to a sudden loss of oil and, with it, oil pressure. In turn, that could cause the engine to seize, which could lead to a crash or a fire, if the oil drops onto a hot enough surface. Unfortunately, the bad hoses were installed in every single DBX707 built between October 11, 2022, and June 30, 2023 — or 720 vehicles in the U.S.
To ensure that no failures occur in affected DBX707s, Aston Martin will start reaching out to owners on April 22, and will replace all hoses for the oil cooler on affected vehicles, at no cost to the owner.
Recall No3: Loose Fasteners On Front Propeller Shaft
Meanwhile, it must also work to reach out to the 10 American owners of 2021 DBXs whose front prop shaft and front differential fasteners may not have been tightened to specification.
This problem was also discovered by a customer (in Switzerland), whose SUV came to a halt on the side of the road after the front prop shaft came loose. Aston Martin investigated, and discovered that pandemic parts shortages were to blame.
In the 10 U.S. vehicles — as well as seven vehicles in other markets — parts shortages meant that the front drive unit and differential weren’t available as the vehicles were on the assembly line. They were moved to a rework area, where the parts were installed once they became available.
However, unlike on the line, there was no way to record how tightly fasteners were affixed as the differential and drive unit were being installed, so Aston Martin can’t guarantee that they are torqued correctly in these vehicles.
If these fasteners loosen, it could lead to noise, vibrations, and an eventual loss of front-wheel drive. If the prop shaft is loose, the crank position sensor could unplug causing the engine to stall, and other damage could follow.
As a result, Aston Martin will start reaching out to affected owners on April 22, asking them to return their vehicle to a nearby dealer where the fasteners will be inspected, and tightened where necessary.
