Recall 16V042 affected 202 2016 Bluecar Bluecar vehicles for power train software that can shut off power. The software repair was completed free of charge.
Bluecar is recalling 202 2016 Bluecar vehicles because power train software can shut down power after driving events such as hard braking or high acceleration followed by immediate release of the accelerator. A sudden loss of power can increase crash risk, and Bluecar dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The 2016 Bluecar uses power train software to manage how drive power is delivered from the electric propulsion system to the wheels. That software reads driver inputs, including acceleration and braking, then keeps the car responding in a controlled way as pedal demand changes.
On affected Bluecar vehicles, the software had incorrect parameters. After certain driving events, such as strong acceleration followed by an immediate accelerator release, or harsh braking, those settings allowed the system to shut down power to the car. Bluecar identified a corrected software parameter set and deployed it to the impacted cars.
There is no warning sign before failure. When the shutdown occurred, the dashboard display showed that power had been lost, so the driver first saw the loss-of-power message and the car no longer delivered drive power.
Who's affected?
| 2016 Bluecar Bluecar | electrical system software |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 202 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific car.
What's the safety risk?
If the vehicle loses power while moving, crash risk increases because propulsion is lost without advance warning. The dashboard display shows the power loss after it happens. If your VIN is included, confirm the corrected power train software has been installed. Repair is free at any franchised Bluecar dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016 Bluecar Bluecar is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Bluecar dealer to confirm the free power-train software update is installed, which fixes the shutdown condition after hard acceleration or harsh braking.
- Bring any recall notice and reference recall number 16V042 when you call.
- Avoid hard acceleration and harsh braking until Bluecar confirms the software correction is installed.
What happens at the repair
For this fleet recall, Bluecar notified the fleet owner and completed the corrected power train software update on all affected vehicles at no charge. The update addressed the software condition that shut off power after hard acceleration release or harsh braking. Bluecar completed the recall on December 23, 2015. Because Bluecar has a general reimbursement plan on file, an owner who paid out of pocket for this software-related repair before the recall notice should contact Bluecar with repair documentation and ask how the plan applies.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 27, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 8, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V042?
Recall 16V042 covers 202 2016 Bluecar Bluecar vehicles with power train software that can shut down power after high acceleration followed by immediate accelerator release, or harsh braking. A loss of vehicle power can increase crash risk.
What should I do if my 2016 Bluecar Bluecar is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 16V042. Bluecar reported that the fleet owner was notified and all affected vehicles received corrected power train software free of charge. Reference recall 16V042 when asking for service history.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Bluecar reported that all affected vehicles received the corrected power train software free of charge.
Is it safe to drive a 2016 Bluecar Bluecar with this recall?
The safety risk is loss of vehicle power, which can increase crash risk. Bluecar reported that the recall repair was completed on December 23, 2015, with corrected power train software installed on all affected vehicles.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V042000 |
|---|---|
| Bluecar customer service | 1 46 96 44 33 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V042 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V042000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →