Detroit, MI — May 4, 2015 — Previously, Ford announced a recall of 389,585 cars for a problem related to faulty door latches. In affected vehicles, which include Ford Fiestas and Lincoln MKZ’s, broken pawl spring tabs could lead to doors opening up unexpectedly, posing a hazard to driver. The manufacturer linked one alleged accident to this fault, as well as accounts of “soreness,” as the Detroit News reported.
Although the amount of possible related accidents has stayed the same, Ford is now adding to the original number of recalled vehicles. The Detroit Free Press says that door latch concerns have been responsible for five recall actions since 2014: while this latest one has brought the total amount up to more than 545,900, the amount of cars recalled for latch problems since 2014 is higher than 1.5 million.
As with the original action, this further recall also encompasses Ford Fiestas, Ford Fusions and Lincoln MKZ’s across North America. Model years of concern are 2011-2014 for the Fiestas, 2013-14 for the Fusions and just 2014 for the MKZ’s.
In response to the first recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a statement on its website advising certain consumer actions to reduce the chance of danger if a door refuses to close.
“Do not attempt to temporarily secure the door in a closed position (e.g., with a rope or by using the seat belt), and do not have an occupant attempt to hold the door closed while the vehicle is being driven,” the site reads. “Be safe and have the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership instead.”
Car dealerships need to be ready to perform the repairs and replacement actions necessary after a recall, and consumers should feel comfortable reaching out to them when the time is right, based on their risk and the right instructions.
