Bloomberg News report
WASHINGTON (Aug. 5, 2015) — Harman International Industries Inc., which supplied car audio systems involved in a Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) recall in July, has been asked for information on other radios that may be vulnerable to hacking, the U.S. regulator said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on its website that an estimated 2.8 million Harman Kardon “infotainment” systems may be affected — double the number specified in the FCA recall announced July 24.
The Harman Kardon investigation was opened on July 29, according to the agency. Company officials were not immediately available for comment.
NHTSA chief Mark Rosekind said on July 31 that his agency is trying to find out how many auto makers may have received radios from the same company that supplied FCA, Reuters reported, adding that Mr. Rosekind didn't identify the supplier.
Harman Kardon's website shows it provides sound systems for automobiles including BMW, Subaru, and Mercedes-Benz, as well to FCA.
The inquiry “is being opened to obtain information from the supplier of Chrysler Uconnect units to determine the nature and extent of similarities in other infotainment products provided to other vehicle manufacturers,” NHTSA said.
“If sufficient similarities exist, the investigation will examine if there is cause for concern that security issues exist in other Harman Kardon products,” NHTSA said.
The latest action by NHTSA follows FCA's recall of 1.4 million cars and trucks equipped with the radios at risk of being hacked, the first formal auto safety campaign in response to a cybersecurity threat.
NHTSA has been under fire from Congress for not catching defects more quickly, given that the industry last year set a record with 64 million autos called back for fixes.
This report appeared on the website of Automotive News, a Detroit-based sister publication of Tire Business.