3 people riding inside a centrally locked car on a rainy day died under mysterious circmstances. This is not the first time an inciden like this has happened. A similar incident had happened in the same car few years back in Mumbai. Read the full article here (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/223153.cms)

Now the question is how an incident like this could repeat itself ? It shows that the company has not done its homework well nor done a good FMEA on this (Because 3 people died, 2 people hd died earlier)

I heard somewhere that if it is brought to the notice of IATF, they will take action on the certifying body certifying the organisation. Is it true?

I request the forum moderator to move this to appropriate location

I heard somewhere that if it is brought to the notice of IATF, they will take action on the certifying body certifying the organisation. Is it true?

I don't think so. About the International Automotive Task Force (IATF)

The IATF is an "ad hoc" group of automotive manufacturers and their respective trade associations, formed to provide improved quality products to automotive customers worldwide. Specifically, the purposes for which the IATF was established are:

1. To develop a consensus regarding international fundamental quality system requirements, primarily for the participating companies’ direct suppliers of production materials, product or service parts or finishing services (e.g. heat treating, painting and plating). These requirements will also be available for other interested parties in the automotive industry.
2. To develop policies and procedures for the common IATF third party registration scheme to ensure consistency worldwide.
3. To provide appropriate training to support ISO/TS 16949 requirements and the IATF registration scheme.
4. To establish formal liaisons with appropriate bodies to support IATF objectives.

Looks to me like the IATF is focused upon automotive supplier aspects rather than something such as the content of an automotive manufacturer's Systems Design FMEA.

Where did you hear the IATF would 'care' one way or the other?

3 people riding inside a centrally locked car on a rainy day died under mysterious circmstances. This is not the first time an inciden like this has happened. A similar incident had happened in the same car few years back in Mumbai.....

Just a warning to others. The link contained above will deluge you with pop ups if you don't have a pop up blocker on, beware!

I am also very confused as to how it happended? The article offers little in the way of an explanation! Sounds like a fault of the exhaust and passenger system, rather than the central locking system.

Just a warning to others. The link contained above will deluge you with pop ups if you don't have a pop up blocker on, beware! Thanks for the warning!

I am also very confused as to how it happended? The article offers little in the way of an explanation! Sounds like a fault of the exhaust and passenger system, rather than the central locking system.
Good point.

I recall an item a few years back related to fataliies when windows and doors are locked and become inoperative when a vehicle has an accident.

Taking advice about popups, I have decided not to visit the OP's suggested site.

Alternately, a Netherlands study in pdf (no popups) discusses the situation at this url.

http://www.safetyboard.nl/publications/dsb/safety_study_cars_submerged_in_water.pdf

A key paragraph:
MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY
This study was motivated by the serious accident involving a police car that took place on 29 July 1998, in Edam. The vehicle entered deep water and all three occupants failed to escape in time and died by drowning. After hitting the water, the car remained afloat for a short time. During this time, various people entered the water and unsuccessfully attempted
to free the occupants.

The consequences of a car entering water can be fatal. Moreover, this scenario was terrifying, particularly for the occupants. The experience was, however, a nightmare for assistance providers too: when they failed to gain access to the vehicle, they had to watch helplessly as the car sank with its occupants still inside.

Shortly after the accident, the suspicion arose that the short circuiting of the car’s locking system had unintentionally locked all the doors. The question also arose as to whether similar short circuits were occurring on a larger scale. Apart form the problem of locked doors, it was also unclear why the occupants had not managed to escape through a window.

For these reasons, the Board decided to investigate this issue further. This report looksbriefly at the causes and circumstances of accidents resulting in cars entering water, and focuses on the subsequent problem of the occupants escaping or being freed by others.

A police officer said, "In their autopsy report doctors have said the death was caused by the inhalation of carbon monoxide."


A good FMEA "could" (depending on the details of the cause) have prevented this. An exhaust FMEA should examine possible failures and effects of exhaust gases leaking from the exhaust system. The car underbody FMEA should look at failures related to not sealing properly allowing exhaust gases to enter the passenger compartment.

Also there are many regulations related to exhaust system in the US that may not be applicable in other countries.

Just a warning to others. The link contained above will deluge you with pop ups if you don't have a pop up blocker on, beware!.

Oh !! :mg: I had Internet Explorer 7 Which blocks popups & phishing attempts without my intervention & I didn't know the link above generated pop-ups. Sorry for the inconvenience. :tg:

BTW Here's what the car manufacturer had to say ....

A Hyundai spokesman told TOI that the company was yet to get details of the Chennai freak accident. "It's impossible for an air conditioner to emit carbon monoxide as the engine is the one, which emits that gas and the exhaust pipe is far removed from the passenger area. Nobody can die due to air conditioner gases in modern automobiles," he said.

In some countries if a serious lapse such as this is observed, all the cars of the particular batch will be withdrawn from the field for thorough inspection free of cost and thoroughly inspected. Let us see what the car manufacturer comes up with this incident...