Dearborn, Mich. – Sept. 19, 2017 – Ford Motor Company has recalled more than 250 vehicles possibly equipped with defective steering gear heat fasteners, according to documentation submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017 Explorer sport utility vehicles and Taurus sedans, as well as Police Interceptor sedans and utility vehicles. Ford estimates that 80 percent of the vehicles referenced in the recall contain the defective features.

The Defect

Affected vehicles likely contain steering-gear heat fasteners that have not been properly coated with a corrosion-resistant finish. As a result, moisture may corrode these and other nearby metal fixtures, possibly leading the heat shield to detach completely from the steering gear. This may expose the steering gear assembly to higher than expected temperatures, which triggers thermal protection mode. In this scenario, steering assist functionality decreases while the gears cool. While not overtly dangerous, this situation could affect vehicle maneuverability and increase the likelihood of an accident. However, Ford has not received any field reports connecting the defective heat fasteners to any injuries of accidents.

Drivers operating vehicles with defective heat gear fasteners that have caused steering-gear overheating and activated thermal protection mode will hear audible chimes and see an engine warning on the dash cluster.

Timeline of Events

In May 2017, a worker at the ITW Shakeproof Group, Ford’s steering-gear module supplier, noticed that the gear heat fasteners on one assembly approved for shipment happened to be black in color. The employee reported the issue to his superiors who notified Ford. The automaker’s plant on Chicago, which was responsible for producing the vehicles equipped with steering gear modules from the Shakeproof Group, stopped shipments immediately. Engineers at the facility then launched an investigation.

Ford determined that the supplier had sent over steering-gear modules with the wrong fasteners, which were not properly coated to protect against corrosion. The car manufacturer brought this evidence in front of the Critical Concern Review Group on May 23.

Over the course of June and July, personnel from the engineering department analyzed the black fasteners to see if they succeeded in retaining vehicle heat shields. Ford also began reviewing plant assembly and shipment records to determine if vehicles had left the facility with the steering gear modules featuring these fixtures installed.

In August, the Ford Field Review Committee examined both reports from the engineering team, as well as the production and shipment logs for the Chicago assembly site. On Aug. 21, the group concluded that a voluntary safety recall was necessary. The automaker informed dealers of the recall action Aug. 29.

The Solution

Ford has directed dealers to replace black steering-gear heat fasteners in affected models with properly coated models, free of charge. The car company began notifying owners via first-class mail Sept. 11. Those in need of more assistance can contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332 using the recall identification code 17S23, according to a recall notification letter from the NHTSA. Owners can also connect directly with the NHTSA via the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Dearborn, Mich. – Sept. 13, 2017 – Ford Motor Company has recalled more than 117,000 trucks believed to contain defective inflatable seat belt buckle assemblies, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2015-2017 Ford F-150 Crew Cab trucks with production dates ranging from July 20, 2015 to June 16, 2017, as well as 2017 F-250 and F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab trucks produced between Oct. 20, 2015 and June 16, 2017. Ford estimates that 15 percent of the vehicles named in the recall have the defective feature.

The recall involves 143,000 vehicles worldwide, including 117,423 originating from American dealers; 15,175 from sellers in Canada and 8,202 from those in Mexico, according to a company press release.

The Defect

The vehicles involved in the campaign come with inflatable seat belt buckle assemblies attached to left rear passenger seats with defective mounting brackets. Specifically, these steel fixtures do not meet the rivet head thickness standards established in Section 5.2, rule 210 of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, which states that seat belt anchoring devices must “ensure proper location for effective occupant restraint and to reduce the likelihood of failure,” according to the NHTSA.

The defective part could put passengers at risk, especially during crashes. However, Ford has yet to receive reports connecting the problematic fixture to any accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

In June 2017, seat belt bracket supplier Takata notified Ford of an incident in which an inflatable seat belt feature separated from its underlying support. Members of the Ford Critical Concern Review Group stepped in to investigate the report, while engineers from Takata analyzed manufacturing records, eventually coming to the conclusion that shop-floor personnel had made unauthorized changes to the rivet head thickness measurements. This resulted in the production and application of ineffective rivets, making seat belt anchor brackets prone to separation. Takata released these results to Ford in early August.

On Aug. 21, Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed this data and approved a voluntary safety recall. The car company notified dealers Aug. 29.

The Solution

Ford has directed dealers to inspect the seat belt assemblies on affected vehicles and add additional rivets if necessary, according to a recall acknowledgment document from the NHTSA. Dealers are to make these repairs free of charge. Ford is expected to contact owners via first-class mail Oct. 16. However, those in need of more immediate assistance can call Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Callers should use the internal recall identification code 17C12. Owners can also receive assistance directly from the NHTSA through its Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Dearborn, Mich. – Sept. 13, 2017 – Ford Motor Company has recalled nearly 700 vehicles believed to be equipped with defective seat assemblies, according to documentation from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017 Ford Focus sedans with production dates ranging from June 7, 2017 to June 12, 2017. Ford estimates that 1 percent of the vehicles referenced in the action contain the defective parts.

In addition to the 698 Ford Focuses recalled in the U.S., the automaker is recalling 132 sold in the Canadian market and five originating from Mexican dealers, according to a company press release.

The Defect

The vehicles named in the campaign could come equipped with second-row backseat frames that have not been sufficiently welded. Specifically, assembly crews may have failed to achieve proper weld penetration between the outboard pivot bracket and the pivot nut joint. The defect could increase the likelihood of passenger injury during accidents, as the seat back may come loose. However, Ford has yet to receive reports connecting the defect to any accidents or injuries.

The improper welds violate Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 207 and 210, which dictate that automakers produce vehicles with safe seat belt anchorage and seating systems.

Timeline of Events

In June 2017, Ford personnel at the company’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne came across a vehicle whose left rear seat back frame outboard pivot nut separated during the installation of the back seat. The plant returned the seat back frame to Ford’s tier-one supplier, which determined that the tier-two supplier had failed to apply proper welds. The tier-two supplier investigated the issue throughout July and August, eventually coming to the conclusion that the pivot nuts installed on the Ford seat back frames had become dislodged immediately prior to welding. The parts provider determined that a sticking condition had caused the pivot nuts to move.

Ford performed additional analyses and found that the defective welds put the vehicle in violation of FMVSS guidelines. On Aug. 21, the Ford Field Review Committee chose to conduct a voluntary recall. The automaker notified dealers Aug. 29.

The Solution

Ford has directed dealers to inspect the welds on affected vehicles and replace the seat back frames if necessary. These repairs are to be performed free of charge. Ford plans to notify owners via first-class mail between Oct. 16 and Oct. 20. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332 or reach to the NHTSA via its Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.