Ford Recalls 4,212 Mustang, Lincoln Nautilus and Navigator Vehicles for Instrument Panel Issues

Laguna Hills, CA – March 12, 2019 – Ford Motor Company issued a recall for certain 2019 Ford Mustang, Lincoln Nautilus and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. When the vehicles start up, the instrument panel cluster assembly may not function, showing a blank display. As many as 4,212 vehicles are potentially affected by this issue.

The Defect

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Safety Recall Report on this issue, because of the potential failure of the instrument panel cluster assembly, the display may not light upon start-up. A blank instrument cluster will not show important information like vehicle speed, fuel or temperature level or safety system warnings. Driving without an operating display can increase the risk of a crash.

Timeline of Events

This issue was first reported to Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group Dec. 11, 2018. Ford supplier Visteon had discovered a potential problem with 2 GB memory chips in the Instrument Panel Cluster causing a failure of data to load properly, resulting in a blank display. The issue surfaced during bench testing at higher temperatures. Ford then initiated a shipping freeze for all affected vehicles while the problem was investigated.

During the following month, the Ford team reviewed and confirmed a potential data transfer timing issue between the 2 GB memory chip and the graphics processor. The team worked with the supplier and three assembly plants to identify the affected vehicles, while the Engineering team searched field data for reports related to this issue. Ford found one warranty report.

On Feb. 4, 2019, the Ford Field Review Committee announced a compliance recall action for all affected vehicles. Ford is not yet aware of any reports of accidents or injuries related to this issue.

The Solution

The recall began March 8, 2019. Ford has notified all affected owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster assembly, free of charge.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 19C03. Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 19V076000.

Sean ReyesFord Recalls 4,212 Mustang, Lincoln Nautilus and Navigator Vehicles for Instrument Panel Issues

Ford Adds Nearly 800,000 More Vehicles to Takata Airbag recall List

Dearborn, MI. – Feb. 26, 2019 – Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is recalling 782,384 vehicles as part of the wider ongoing Takata air bag recall. The recall includes the following models:

  • 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles
  • 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles
  • 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles
  • 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles
  • 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles
  • 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles
  • 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles
  • 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles

Recall Summary

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Safety Report filed on Jan. 7, the vehicles in question were originally equipped with a Takata air bag that included an ammonium nitrate powered inflator within the assembly of the passenger frontal air bag module. (The air bag inflators were also used as replacements, so vehicles which have had the air bag replaced may still have a faulty device.)

If a vehicle which is so equipped is involved in a crash and the front passenger airbag deploys, there is a significant risk of the inflators exploding. This is due to propellant degradation, which typically occurs in response to long-term exposure to weather in hot and humid environments.

If an inflator explodes out of the front of the airbag, flying pieces of metal can strike passengers and the driver and cause serious injuries or death.

The Zones designated for the Takata recall are being prioritized as their climate leads to more rapid degradation, and vehicles are being recalled in waves with the oldest makes and models first, do to the higher risk involved for such vehicles and the pace of production for replacement air bags being limited by the sheer number needed to replace all in service.

On May 3, 2016, an Amendment to the Nov. 3, 2015 Consent Order was filed after the NHTSA evaluated the rate at which propellant degradation may occur in non-desiccated frontal airbag inflators. It was adjudged that there was significant variation based on geographic factors affecting both environmental heat and humidity. The department further concluded that all non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators will reach a threshold level of degradation at some point, at which time the inflator has a significantly increased risk of becoming unreasonably dangerous.

According to previous filings, other than inflators already under recall, Takata is not aware of any test ruptures in ballistic testing or confirmed field incidents related to the subject non-desiccated ammonium nitrate inflators. On Dec. 17, 2018, Ford’s Field Review Committee decided to issue the next phase of this recall to cover vehicles from the priority zones and years covering 2010 to 2014.

The repair

Owners will be notified by mail with instructions to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have their passenger frontal air bag inflator replaced, free of charge, with one that utilizes an inflator without ammonium nitrate. According to the owner letter from Ford, an appointment must be scheduled in accordance with parts and scheduling availability at the chosen dealer. The recall began Feb. 18, 2019.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 782,000 vehicles were originally part of this recall. As of April 9, 2021 – the last date information was available – 583,909 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

Sean ReyesFord Adds Nearly 800,000 More Vehicles to Takata Airbag recall List

Ford Recalls Nearly 2,700 2019 Lincoln Vehicles for ADAS Issues

Laguna Hills, Calif. – January 25, 2018 – Ford Motor Company is recalling close to 2,700 2019 Lincoln Nautilus luxury SUVs due to issues with advance driver assist systems that govern the vehicles’ steering control technology. The 2019 Nautilus has been presented by Ford as a refreshed version of the MKX SUV, with a choice between a 2.7-liter V6 turbo or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine. The 2019 model also replaced the six-speed automatic transmission with an eight-speed one, turning the vehicle into a more powerful choice for drivers.

The Defect

According to CNET, the problem is related to software responsible for regulating the vehicle’s advanced driver assist systems. The vehicle may not detect if the driver is touching the steering wheel during time periods when the lane-centering system is activated. If there is a need for the driver to return their hands to the wheel, the system may fail to notify the driver to do so, which could increase the risk of a crash.

Timeline of Events

All the recalled vehicles were built at Ford’s Oakville Assembly Plant between Sept. 5 and Nov. 19, 2018. Most of the vehicles affected are located in the U.S., though a few hundred are in Canada. Ford is thus far unaware of any accidents or injuries related to this defect.

This is the second recall to affect the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. According to Consumer Reports, last December Ford recalled certain 2019 Nautilus vehicles that were not equipped with Adaptive Front Steering due to a plastic cover on the driver frontal air bag module which had the potential to detach during air bag deployment.

The Solution

Fixing the problem will not require any replacement hardware. Owners will be notified and instructed to take their vehicle to an approved dealer, where technicians will reflash the software in the power steering control module. This will reset the ADAS system to provide the correct level of hands-off detection when in use. Owners may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov. The reference number for this recall is 19S02.

Sean ReyesFord Recalls Nearly 2,700 2019 Lincoln Vehicles for ADAS Issues

Ford recalls over 953,000 vehicles to replace inflators

Ford recalls over 953,000 vehicles to replace inflators

DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 953,000 vehicles worldwide to replace Takata passenger air bag inflators that can explode and hurl shrapnel.

The move includes over 782,000 vehicles in the U.S. and is part of the largest series of recalls in U.S. history.

Included are the 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, the 2010 and 2011 Ford Ranger, the 2010 to 2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, the 2010 and 2011 Mercury Milan, and the 2010 to 2014 Ford Mustang…Read more on APNews.com

Sean ReyesFord recalls over 953,000 vehicles to replace inflators

Ford expands Takata airbag inflator recall

Dearborn, MI, January 4, 2019 – Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) recently increased the scope of its recall of vehicles including airbag inflator components provided by Takata, according to a company press release. Airbags containing Takata parts have been associated with several other waves of recalls over the past few years, encompassing multiple automakers.

The latest extension of the Ford recall is approximately 782,384-strong and targets the following models:

  • 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX
  • 2010-2011 Ford Ranger
  • 2010-2012 Ford Fusion
  • 2010-2012 Ford Fusion, 2010-2012 Lincoln MKZ
  • 2010-2011 Mercury Milan
  • 2010-2014 Ford Mustang

Recall summary

Airbag inflators manufactured by Takata may be defective, which could make the airbag’s components explode instead of deploying properly in the event of a collision. The current wave of the Ford recall centers around the aforementioned vehicles’ front passenger-side airbags. Since Takata provided so many components to such a wide variety of auto manufacturers, the recall has taken place in multiple phases,  targeting various components of vehicles made by multiple manufacturers.

A crash in which an airbag explosion occurred could cause serious injury or death to motorists, adding urgency to the multi-stage recall. Ford did note in its press release that there haven’t yet been any injuries or deaths directly linked to the kinds of passenger-side inflators included in this round of the recall expansion.

The latest expansion of the Takata recall is part of a rolling schedule implemented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency noted that since the recall includes “tens of millions” of vehicles, beginning with the riskiest types of cars, mostly vehicles produced in 2006 and earlier. The order of the recall is based on both year of manufacture and the relative heat and humidity of regions – hot, humid conditions exacerbate the problems with airbags and increase risk. The entire schedule began in November 2015, according to the NHTSA, and is intended to conclude at the end of 2019.

The vehicles included in the latest Ford recall were manufactured between 2008 and 2012. The potential fault in these airbags has been known since the early days of the overall Takata recall, but due to the logistical need to handle the repairs in waves, they are only being serviced now.

The repair

Owners of affected Ford vehicles – or any other cars involved in the Takata recall thus far – should go to a local dealership, where the frontal passenger-side airbag inflator or airbag module will be replaced, with the manufacturer paying for the repairs. The reference number assigned to this latest recall by Ford is 19S01.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 782,000 vehicles were originally part of this recall. As of April 9, 2021 – the last date information was available – 583,909 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

Sean ReyesFord expands Takata airbag inflator recall

Ford Recalls Nearly 35,000 Vehicles Due to Missing Seat Brackets

Laguna Hills, CA – November 30, 2018 – Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Expedition vehicles due to missing brackets in the center row seating. The potential number of units affected is 34,946.

The Defect

According to the NHTSA Recall Safety Report, the second row center seat track assemblies may be missing one or both of the J-Channel reinforcement brackets, possibly allowing the seat to move in the event of a crash. In the event of a crash, a seat that moves may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury.

This recall includes all vehicles produced with this seat configuration (second row bench [40/20/40]), which was a new design for the 2018 model year. The second row bench center (20%) seat is adjustable and can be positioned 70mm further forward than the outboard seats. The owner’s manual states the seat should be adjusted to its rearward position when it is occupied by older children or adults, including children in booster seats.

Timeline of Events

On August 30, 2018, Ford’s Critical Concerns Review Group (CCRG) reviewed a concern regarding missing J-channel reinforcement brackets on certain 2018 model year Expedition and Navigator second row bench center (20%) seats. This seat track assembly design, which was new for 2018 models, contains two J-channel reinforcement brackets, one left-hand and one right-hand. CCRG requested an assessment of center seat structural integrity with one or both J-channel bracket reinforcements missing.

During September and October 2018, directional CAE analysis was conducted on a rigidified body sheet metal structure with the second row center seat in the full rear and full forward seating positions, and a more detailed analysis simulating actual body sheet metal structure was performed under crash conditions to determine if the missing brackets presented a risk.

The in-depth CAE analysis, simulating the production vehicle design, indicated that the seat track missing one or both J-channel reinforcement brackets may peel or tear when the seat is adjusted in the fully forward or near fully forward position. This could lead to increased risk of injury during a crash, particularly for children seated in the middle row seating.

CAE was able to confirm that a seat adjusted in the full rearward seating position did not present this concern. On November 5, 2018, Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a recall; at this time, Ford was not aware of any reports of accident or injury related to this issue.

The Solution

Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the second row center (20%) seat inspected to determine if both J-channel brackets are installed. If one or both J-channel brackets are missing, dealers will replace the center seat frame assembly. There will be no charge for this service. Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, customers are advised to adjust the center seat to its full rearward position. The recall is expected to begin December 17, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 18S37. Owners may also call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153). The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 18V-805.

Sean ReyesFord Recalls Nearly 35,000 Vehicles Due to Missing Seat Brackets

Ford Recalls Nearly 300 Nautilus Vehicles Due to Air Bag Issue

Laguna Hills, CA – November 29, 2018 – Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Lincoln Nautilus vehicles that are not equipped with Adaptive Front Steering, due to a defect in an air bag cover. The potential number of units affected is 268.

The Defect

According to the NHTSA Recall Safety Report, the driver airbag modules installed in vehicles may contain a plastic cover that was improperly injection-molded at the sub-tier supplier. A driver airbag cover that has not been properly molded may detach during an airbag deployment. If the air bag cover separates during deployment, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Timeline of Events

On September 27, 2018, Autoliv, the non-AFS driver airbag module Tier 1 supplier, notified Ford of a test anomaly that had occurred during a lot acceptance test (LAT) at high temperature on that day. Autoliv subsequently contained all suspect parts from that lot, and began an investigation into the cause of the failure.

In October 2018, Autoliv’s ongoing investigation discovered that the potential root cause could be attributed to the presence of knit lines in the area of the tear seam on the airbag cover substrate, and it was also revealed that the Tier 3 supplier (DEMO) made several adjustments to the cover injection-molding process without notifying the Tier 2 supplier (Eissmann) of the adjustments. These adjustments had resulted in the improper forming of the knit lines in the area of the cover tear seam.

The investigation also revealed that the injection-molding process change had been used on covers that were built into airbag module assemblies which had previously passed LAT and were subsequently installed in vehicles; therefore, an analysis to identify the release status of these vehicles was initiated. On November 5, 2018, Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a recall.

The Solution

Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the driver airbag module replaced. There will be no charge for this service. The recall is expected to begin in November 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 18S38. Owners may also call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153). The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 18V-806.

Sean ReyesFord Recalls Nearly 300 Nautilus Vehicles Due to Air Bag Issue

Ford Recalls 215 Previously Recalled Vehicles for Potential Air Bag Malfunction

Laguna Hills, CA – November 27, 2018 – Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and 2010-2012 Lincoln MKZ vehicles that previously received a replacement passenger air bag under recalls 16V-384, 17V-024 or 18V-046. The potential number of units affected is 215.

The Defect

According to the NHTSA Recall Safety Report, in the event of a crash requiring deployment of the passenger air bag, the bracket that secures the air bag inflator to the module housing may deform, allowing the gas that inflates the air bag to leak out. If the air bag does not inflate properly, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash. All affected vehicles were previously repaired under safety recalls using passenger airbag module service parts manufactured with stop brackets with an incorrect material thickness. Ford identified the affected vehicle population by monitoring warranty repairs using its warranty system to identify vehicles repaired with a specific part number that contained incorrect material thickness stop brackets, and issued the subsequent recall for those vehicles alone, as the issue had been fixed at manufacturing level for subsequent builds.

Timeline of Events

For production validation (PV) testing, the supplier used a stop plate component that did not follow the proper production part approval process (PPAP) and was thicker than the specified material thickness. This resulted in a “false positive” validation test. The specified material thickness utilized in production was inadequate to provide expected performance. On October 4, 2018, Joyson Safety Systems (JSS) reported a production validation test failure while validating parts on a new production line at their Monclova plant on an airbag module produced as a service part for the 2010 through 2012 model year Fusion/Milan/MKZ vehicles.

On October 8, 2018, JSS observed a Lot Acceptance Test (LAT) failure on the same part produced at their Torreon plant. Parts used for LAT testing were  also assembled using an incorrect gage thickness stop plate. JSS halted production of the affected airbag modules and quarantined stock in its control. Investigation of the test failures identified that a stop plate utilized in the module assembly provided insufficient support during airbag deployment. This defect was declared to be an issue, potentially resulting in inflation gas leakage and incomplete airbag cushion inflation in the event of a crash. The subsequent investigation of the PV and LAT test failures further identified that PV testing for the initial production line at the Torreon facility was performed using similar stop plates produced with an incorrect material thickness.

On October 16, 2018, the PV and LAT test failures were brought into Ford’s Critical Concerns Review Group, and on October 25, 2018, Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action.

The Solution

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in late November 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 18S34. Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the vehicle’s passenger airbag module replaced. There will be no charge for this service. Owners may also call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153). The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 18V-775.

Sean ReyesFord Recalls 215 Previously Recalled Vehicles for Potential Air Bag Malfunction

Ford Recalls Around 555 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX Vehicles for Incorrect Door Striker Bolt

 

Lilburn, Georgia – September 25, 2018: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles in North America to replace door striker bolts in all four doors.
These vehicles may have door striker bolts that are shorter than intended. Vehicles with shorter door striker bolts fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for Door Locks and Door Retention Components.In the event of a crash, a shorter bolt may allow the door to open, increasing the risk of injury.

According to a release from the Ford Media Center, affected vehicles include 2018 Ford Edge and 2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles built at Oakville Assembly Plant, July 27-31, 2018. There are approximately 555 vehicles in North America relating to this concern, with 503 vehicles in the United States and its federalized territories, 51 in Canada and one in Mexico. Vehicles assembled before July 27, 2018 and after July 31, 2018 were assembled using the correct length door striker bolts and are not affected by this concern.

The Defect

The affected vehicles may have a door striker assembled to the vehicle body with one or both striker bolts that may be 5mm shorter than design intent length. In the event of a vehicle crash, a door striker with a shorter bolt may not withstand the minimum ultimate loads required. This may allow the door to open in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The supplier mislabeled and delivered striker bolts 5mm shorter than the design intent bolts. Because of the mislabeling, the shorter bolts became mixed with the design intent bolts at the assembly line.

Timeline of Events

According to the NHTSA Safety Recall Report, in August 2018, Oakville Assembly Complex (OAC) brought into Ford’s Critical Concerns Review Group (CCRG) an issue concerning Edge and MKX vehicles that may have been built with the incorrect length fastener used to attach the door striker to the vehicle body.

After a line operator observed that the fastener was not the correct length, a stop-ship was initiated, and the supplier was notified. Further investigation identified that the supplier had mistakenly shipped boxes labeled with the correct part number, but which actually contained fasteners that were 5mm shorter than design intent.

The error was limited to a single batch of mis-labeled door striker bolts. The supplier took corrective action and preventative action at their facility and resumed delivery to OAC on July 30, 2018.

Engineering was asked to study the effect of a 5 mm shorter length bolt on the strength of the door striker. In September 2018, Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action to recall vehicles with the incorrect part, as it was determined that the shorter bolt could cause a hazard in case of a crash by failing to properly secure the door.

Ford is not aware of any reports of accident or injury related to this condition.

The Solution

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door striker bolts, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 15, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153). The Ford reference number for this recall is 18C06.

Sean ReyesFord Recalls Around 555 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX Vehicles for Incorrect Door Striker Bolt

Ford recalls vehicles with defective torque converters

 

Dearborn, Mich. – July 20, 2018 – Ford Motor Company has recalled more than two dozen vehicles potentially equipped with defective torque converters, according to documentation submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The campaign affects 2017-2018 Ford Edge sport utility vehicles produced between July 28, 2017, and March 8, 2018, as well as 2017 Lincoln MKZ sport utility vehicles manufactured between Aug. 24, 2017. The American automaker suspects all of the vehicles referenced in the action contain the defective parts.

The Defect

The affected vehicles contain two-liter engines with torque converters with defective welds prone to breakage. In the event that these joints collapse, the torque converter may disconnect from the engine flexplate, leading to the loss of motive power and increasing the likelihood of an accident. This defect therefore poses a serious hazard to occupants.

However, Ford has yet to receive reports connecting the problematic components to any accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

Members of the Ford Critical Concern Review Group received a report in May 2018 that outlined in instance in which a vehicle owner brought his car in for service to repair broken torque converter welds. The torque converter in this vehicle had been recalled in an earlier campaign but was apparently not quarantined during production. An investigation revealed that assembly personnel had mishandled the component and installed it in a new transmission.

Ford engineers discovered that this misstep had been made more than two dozen times.

The Ford Field Review Committee took up the issue June 4, 2018, and chose to call for an immediate voluntary recall. The automaker informed dealers of the forthcoming action June 11, 2018.

The Solution

Ford directed dealers to replace the torque converters in affected vehicles free of charge, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgement document. The car company reached out to owners via first-class mail between June 25, 2018, and June 29, 2018.

Those still in need of assistance can speak with Ford customer service personnel by calling (866) 436-7332. Callers should use the internal recall reference code 17S16. Owners can also connect with the NHTSA directly using the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Sean ReyesFord recalls vehicles with defective torque converters