The problem
Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2014 DB9 and Rapide S vehicles manufactured June 2013 to July 2014. Due to a faulty circuit board, the transmissions in the affected vehicles may inadvertently shift to neutral without input from the driver.
The risk
If the transmission shifts to neutral, the driver will not be able to maintain speed or move the vehicle out of traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected circuit boards, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's number for this recall is RA-07-0018. Note: If the vehicle exhibits this problem, owners are advised to turn off the ignition and then restart the car which may allow the car to be driven out of harm's way.
Contacts
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
What to do
- Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
- Call a dealer. Any authorized Aston Martin dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 14V425000.
- Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
- Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.