Dearborn, MI — January 18, 2016 — Both Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis vehicles with model years between 2003 and 2005 are part of a new recall, begun late last month, in response to possible problems with the lighting control module. A total of 296,004 vehicles are potentially involved with this flaw, which could leave drivers without proper lighting while the vehicle is in operation.
The components come from supplier Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
The Part 573 Safety Recall Report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration explains why the module could fail. According to this document, the problem could stem from improper circuit soldering on different terminals. Although this condition will affect the headlights, it won’t necessarily impact other lighting functions in the vehicle. The components come from supplier Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
“These solder joints may fatigue crack caused by repeated thermal cycling and/or vibration that can interrupt power to the headlights,” it reads. “The condition could be exacerbated by an insufficient amount of solder, reducing the adhesion between the solder and the terminal. Cracked solder joints on the circuit board of the LCM may result in loss of headlights while driving.”
The report also states that there have been 11 minor accidents and a single possible injury. Ford or Lincoln dealers are instructed to replace the defective modules free of charge. These recent Ford recalls come after previous investigations, closed in 2009, which determined the defects did not pose any risk to vehicle occupants. In April, 2014, the warranty for the module was extended to 15 years or 250,000 miles, the report also stated.
