Proton Savvy Recall For Bearing Contamination Pic

Automaker Proton Holdings (Malaysia) announced an across-the-board recall for all 34,000 of its Savvy minicars built in 2005, 2006, and 2007. The rear wheel Ball Bearings are reportedly prone to contamination by water, dirt and debris due to improper seal design and/or bearing assembly. Contamination will lead to bearing failure. Reportedly, water ingress and the resulting rust has been the primary culprit behind most Savvy wheel bearing failures. Proton is asking all Savvy owners to immediately take their cars in for inspection and possible Stainless Steel Bearings replacement. The inspection takes approximately 20 minutes. Proton has a long history of grappling with quality issues, and owners of other models have publicly complained about wheel bearing failures due to water contamination. And although the Savvy is exported to other countries, only Save sold in Malaysia are included in this initial recall notice. Making the recall announcement, Proton said; "In line with PROTON's continuing commitment to quality, regular random checks are conducted on PROTON cars as part of its i.Care programme. The results from the most recent inspection brought to attention the possibility of water entry into the rear wheel Needle Bearings which could lead to a malfunction of the affected components." Proton's Managing Director, Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, said: "The safety and satisfaction of our customers is a primary concern. As a precautionary measure, we are recalling all Savvy's for inspection and repair. We do apologize to all Savvy owners for any inconvenience."