Recall Masters – April 3, 2017

Faulty Mustang Door Springs Spark Ford Recalls

Ford is recalling several thousand 2017 Mustang-brand vehicles that may accidentally open their doors during use. This is a safety compliance recall, and the company has said in a statement that the manufacturer has no evidence of any related accidents or injuries.

The Defect
The recall affects 5,756 total vehicles, 5,470 of which were in the U. S., and all of which bear the 2017 model year, produced this year. These vehicles could contain doors with a misaligned spring, prompting the driver-side door to potentially open during a collision. Though this would only happen with the unseated spring, it could still pose a safety risk to occupants…

Read the entire article on the Recall Masters website

Dearborn, Mich. — Apr. 03, 2017 — Ford is recalling several thousand 2017 Mustang-brand vehicles that may accidentally open their doors during use. This is a safety compliance recall, and the company has said in a statement that the manufacturer has no evidence of any related accidents or injuries.

The Defect
The recall affects 5,756 total vehicles, 5,470 of which were in the U. S., and all of which bear the 2017 model year, produced this year. These vehicles could contain doors with a misaligned spring, prompting the driver-side door to potentially open during a collision. Though this would only happen with the unseated spring, it could still pose a safety risk to occupants.

Timeline of Events

Jan. 13-31, 2017: Ford manufactured the soon-to-be recalled vehicles at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant.
March 15, 2017: Ford released and official statement about the fault.

The Resolution

Ford plans to fix the fault on behalf of owners for free, following an inspection. Since the fault is located in the return spring, that will presumably be the focus of the repairs.

This recall echoes a similar action announced last September, which targeted exactly 2,046,297 vehicles in the U.S. alone. This recall included not just the 2015 model year Ford Mustang, but also other models such as the Lincoln MKC and the Ford Transit Connect.

That number mentioned was actually the total amount after the September expansion, which included around 1.5 million vehicles instead of the original number. Instead of the return spring, this other recall pertained to the pawl spring tab, which would have a similar affect of preventing the door from closing. In that case, the resolution was the same, with the manufacturer pledging to replace the faulty latches. As of Sept. 16, 2016, there were three injuries traced back to this fault.

Dearborn, Mich. — March 30, 2017 — Today, Ford announced multiple recalls at once in a joint statement. The first of these was a safety recall for a series of models, all at possible risk of engine fire. While the release said no specific reports of injuries were traced to this recall, it also said it was aware of 29 cases of related fires. The majority of the 230,756 vehicles involved in the total North American recall were in the U.S.

A different site was responsible for each of the four models included in the recall: the Cuautitlan, Hermosilla, Louisville and Valencia Assembly Plants.

The Defect

All of the vehicles in this recall are said to have 1.6-liter GTDI engines, which could have difficulties circulating coolant throughout necessary systems. As a result, the engines could overheat and start fires if they make contact with any oil. The four Ford vehicle types of concern are Escape, Fiesta ST, Fusion and Transit Connect models, with years ranging from 2013 to 2015.

Timeline of Events

• Feb. 15, 2012: The earliest production date listed in the recall, this marked the time when the Ford Fusions began manufacture.
• Sep. 2, 2014: By contrast, this is the latest specific date given for affected vehicle production.
• March 29, 2017: Ford announced the recall in a press release.

The Resolution

The statement warned owners to watch out for signs of this defect, such as a constant coolant leak or possible overheating. The fix will ultimately include installing a sensor to monitor coolant levels in case of a shortage or leak.

There was no specific timeline given for notification or a remedy schedule, but Ford did say that owners only need to see dealers if they notice any of the symptoms, and that they would send repair instructions until official service kits are available.

Livonia, Mich. – March 28, 2017 – Roush CleanTech, an alternative fuel technology firm, has recalled 434 modified Ford vehicles equipped with faulty fuel control valves, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The recall impacts propane-operated Ford E-450 cutaway trucks and vans, F-59 stepvans and F-650 and F-750 heavy duty diesel pickups manufactured between August 2015 and February 2017.

The Defect

Affected models include fuel control valves that exhibit over-current and short-to-ground performance. This increases engine temperatures capable of degrading the non conductive coverings that protect the solenoid wiring coils contained within the valves. When these fixtures fall apart, the valve closes, halting the flow propane to the engine and prompting complete shutdown. This poses serious risks to drivers, as the vehicles could cease operation suddenly and increase the likelihood of a crash.

Timeline of Events

Three separate owners reported incidents of solenoid failure in December 2016, two involving supply valve solenoids and one involving return valve solenoids. Roush contacted the fuel control valve supplier, Parker Hannifin Corporation based in New Britain, Connecticut, and explained the incidents. Soon after, Roush initiated an internal investigation to better understand the problem and identify a solution.

The firm evaluated fuel control valves in the Parker inventory, focusing on the state of the solenoid wiring coils. Roush discovered that, due to the placement of a small plastic bobbin, the coil wiring was slightly eschew. This failed to create enough distance between the wiring and the metal coil casting, leading to the over-current and short-to-ground performance. The parts had gone through the inspection process without being flagged.

Roush decided to issue a recall March 8, 2017, following its investigation. Dealers received notification of the recall March 14.

The Solution

The company has pledged to replace the defective parts, free of charge, according to the NHTSA. Owners should expect to receive notification between March 31 and April 30.

Dearborn, Mich. – Mar. 16, 2017 – Ford has recalled 8,000 trucks due to defective instrument clusters. The recall impacts F-150 models produced between October and November 2016, according to a company news release.

The Defect

Instrument clusters in the affected trucks can lose functionality in cool temperatures. For instance, the transmission gear indicator may not illuminate. Additionally, warning lights may shutdown unexpectedly. These occurrences poses serious risks to occupants, as key vehicle status indicators being unavailable can increase the likelihood of a crash. No injuries have been reported as a result of inoperable instrument clusters. A large majority of the impacted trucks are registered in the U.S., while just over 1,100 more are located in Canada and Mexico.

Timeline of Events

Ford began investigating the problem after receiving customer complaints. The car manufacturer eventually tied the issue to faulty quality control processes at fabrication facilities in Dearborn, as well as Kansas City, Missouri.

The Solution

The automaker has ordered dealers to reprogram instrument clusters in affected vehicles, free of charge. Owners can contact Ford customer service for more information.

Dearborn, Mich. – March 15, 2017 – Ford Motor Company has recalled 5,470 Mustang sports cars with defective interior door handles. The recall impacts models produced between Jan. 13 and Jan. 31 of this year, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The Defect

Affected models include left interior door handles equipped with misoriented spring mechanisms. This defect may cause the door to open when subjected to inertia loads of 30gs or more. Motorists involved in accidents that impact the driver side are likely to suffer serious injury due to the faulty door handle. However, there have been no reported injuries connected to the defect.

Timeline of Events

In early January, a tier-two supplier noticed a missing spring in the left-hand door latch assembly designated for the Mustang. The company began an internal investigation, notifying both Ford and the original OEM parts producer, Key Plastics of Felton, Pennsylvania. Key Plastics immediately froze shipments containing the component and started its own inquiry. At the same time, engineers at the Ford assembly plant in Flat Rock, Michigan, found one vehicle containing a left-hand door handle with loose springs. This lead to a widespread evaluation in which 843 vehicles were reviewed. Approximately 14 contained the defective door handle assembly.

In February, the Critical Concerns Review Group at Ford looked over the data collected and determined that the fixture may be in violation of one or more Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The body ordered tests to determine how the door handles performed with one loose or missing spring. Engineers conducted the trials in early March and determined that the fixture was a serious safety hazard, as it came unlatched when subjected to a 30g force.

The Field Review Committee looked over the test results and soon after recommended that vehicles containing the defective left-hand door assemblies be recalled. Dealers received notification March 14.

The Solution

Ford has ordered dealers to inspect affected models and replace door handle springs, if necessary, free of charge, according to the NHTSA. The car maker intends to notify impacted Mustang owners, via mail, April 24.