Ford Issues Four Recalls
Ford Motor Co. on December 22 issued three safety recalls and one safety compliance recall for roughly 317,000 vehicles. The biggest recall covers 313,000 Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis (2003-05 model year) vehicles over an issue with a lighting control module. Ford said the solder joints on the module could crack and interrupt power to the headlamps, which increases the risk of a crash at night.
The company said it’s aware of 11 reports of accidents and one report of a minor injury related to the issue. The vehicles were built at St. Thomas Assembly Plant between October 3, 2001 through August 2, 2005. About 312,814 vehicles might be affected in North America, including 296,004 in the United States and federalized territories, 14,714 in Canada and 2,096 in Mexico.
Ford is also recalling 177 2016 model year F-650 and F-750 trucks to replace rear air brake chambers. The automaker said the air brake jounce hoses could contact the vehicle’s rear axle housing during vehicle operation, which could cause a leak and inadvertent application of the parking brake or diminished braking performance, which increases the risk of a crash. The automaker isn’t aware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue. The affected vehicles were built at Ohio Assembly Plant from June 18, 2015 through November 15, 2015. About 167 of the vehicles are in the United States, and ten are in Canada.
Ford is also recalling 1,300 2015 Ford Transit dual-rear-wheel vehicles to replace rear axle shafts. The automaker said the rear axle shafts could fracture, either causing a loss of motive power without warning while driving, or unintended vehicle movement when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged, which increases the risk of injury or crash. Ford isn’t aware of any accidents or injuries related to the problem.
The vehicles were built at Kansas City Assembly Plant from May 1, 2015, to June 26, 2015. About 1,265 vehicles are in North America, including 1,170 in the United States and federalized territories, and 95 in Canada.
Ford is also recalling 3,200 2015 Ford F-150 SuperCrew vehicles to replace the front safety belt retractor and pretensioner assembly. The automaker said the safety belt assembly’s pretensioner cables could have been improperly secured, and might not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash.
No accidents or injuries related to the issue have been reported. The vehicles were built at Dearborn Assembly from Jan. 22, 2015, through March 17, 2015. There are a total of 3,218 vehicles that might be affected in North America, including 2,590 in the United States and federalized territories, 555 in Canada and 73 in Mexico.
In all recall cases, dealers will replace the affected parts for free.