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Quality Information - EcoLife wrong E1 labeling

ZF confidential

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
by this letter, ZF informs you about an issue of certain EcoLife transmissions delivered to you with an
incorrect E1 type approval label.
Issue description
An incorrect ECE-R10 number was printed on the labels placed on certain Electronic Control Units
(ECU), which are mounted on EcoLife transmissions produced between 27.05.2019 and 26.02.2020.
Please note that, apart from the incorrect labeling, the ECU itself is in conformity with quality and UNECE regulation.
ZF has notifed the German type approval authority (“Kraftfahrtbundesamt”, hereinafter referred to as
“KBA”) about this issue. KBA has advised that the incorrect labels placed on ECUs mounted to the
EcoLife transmissions which are not yet installed in vehicles should be replaced with corrected labels.
For labels placed on ECUs mounted to EcoLife transmissions that have already been installed in
vehicles, the KBA has advised that the labels should be corrected when the ECU is replaced for service.
KBA has further requested that ZF provide the KBA with certain information regarding the number of
affected ECUs that have been installed in vehicles and how these ECUs will be traced in the field.
Root Cause
After internal investigation it was observed that this issue occurred when the wrong printer
configuration file was used in the assembly line. This issue was corrected, and the scope of potentially
affected units has been identified.
Potentially affected ZF transmissions
A list of potentially affected EcoLife transmissions shipped to you by ZF is annexed hereto as Annex 1.

Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: Dr.-Ing. Franz-Josef Paefgen
Vorstand: Wolf-Henning Scheider (Vorsitzender),
Dr. Konstantin Sauer, Sabine Jaskula, Michael Hankel, Wilhelm Rehm,
Dr. Martin Fischer, Dr. Holger Klein
Sitz: Friedrichshafen · Handelsregistereintrag: Amtsgericht Ulm HRB 630206

ZF Friedrichshafen AG
Alfred-Colsman-Platz 1
88045 Friedrichshafen
Deutschland
Telefon +49 7541 77-0
Telefax +49 7541 77-5354

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Corrective Action
For EcoLife transmissions not yet installed in your vehicles, incorrect ECU labels should be replaced in
accordance with the KBA’s advice. For parts located outside of the scope of the ECE R10, ZF
recommends replacing the incorrect labels as well for those which are not installed in vehicles yet.
Please find attached hereto instructions on how to replace the incorrect labels with a correct label
provided by ZF.
For ECUs that have been installed in vehicles, the KBA has advised that traceability should be
established for these ECUs and that action be taken to ensure that the affected ECUs be replaced with
the ECUs bearing the corrected labels in case of exchange. ZF will place this issue in our transmission
documentation system to ensure traceability for each affected EcoLife transmission. ZF recommends
that all customers track the potentially affected parts supplied to you, as identified in Annex 1, to
enable traceability and identification of the parts in vehicles, consistent with the KBA’s advice.
For vehicles located outside of the scope of the ECE R10, ZF recommends establishing traceability for
those ECUs bearing incorrect labels as well.
Information Requested by ZF
ZF requests information regarding the number of transmissions containing incorrectly labeled ECUs that
haven’t been installed in vehicles as requested by KBA.
Furthermore, ZF requests information about where affected ECUs have been shipped in order to
evaluate potential further type approval requirements.

ZF remains available to answer questions and appreciates your cooperation in this matter.

Annex 1 Transmissions
Annex 2 Relabeling Instructions

Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: Dr.-Ing. Franz-Josef Paefgen
Vorstand: Wolf-Henning Scheider (Vorsitzender),
Dr. Konstantin Sauer, Sabine Jaskula, Michael Hankel, Wilhelm Rehm,
Dr. Martin Fischer, Dr. Holger Klein
Sitz: Friedrichshafen · Handelsregistereintrag: Amtsgericht Ulm HRB 630206

ZF Friedrichshafen AG
Alfred-Colsman-Platz 1
88045 Friedrichshafen
Deutschland
Telefon +49 7541 77-0
Telefax +49 7541 77-5354