US government investigates Ford SUVs with faulty front doors

Washington, D.C. July 29, 2023 – The U.S. government’s auto safety regulator is investigating Ford (NYSE:F) over allegations that welds on some of their vehicles’ doors may break, preventing them from closing or opening properly. They may also open while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

The investigation comes on the back of multiple injuries and one report of property damage.

If it leads to a recall, it could affect an estimated 350,000 vehicles, including: 

  •  2020 – 2021 Ford Escape 
  •  2020 – 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid 

Investigation summary  

The regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened an investigation on July 7,  2023, following multiple complaints of the front doors on said SUVs suddenly opening on their own while driving. Drivers also had a hard time opening and closing the doors and reported that some of the windows would also not open.

Based on initial findings, this is caused by the door hinge separating from the pillar to which it is welded. Consequently, the doors are not aligned correctly against the body and will not latch when closed.  

Risks

Doors that open suddenly while the car is moving may hit and injure pedestrians, cause property damage or startle the driver, leading to an accident.

In fact, leading up to the investigation, NHTSA received 118 complaints about the issue, as well as reports of 25 “minor injuries” and one of property damage. 

Warning signs

Many owners heard “loud popping noises” when opening and closing the doors before the hinges separated completely.  

Other Ford recalls

Earlier this month, Ford recalled a batch of Fusion hybrids with battery issues that may cause them to stall or even catch fire

In December of last year, over half a million of Escape and Bronco Sport SUVs were recalled due to a fuel leak that had a potential to cause a vehicle fire, as reported.

Is your vehicle part of a recall?

This investigation may eventually lead to a Ford broken doors’ recall, potentially affecting almost 350,000 SUVs. To do a Ford recall check and see if your car might be a part of it, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicUS government investigates Ford SUVs with faulty front doors

Ford recalls F-150 electric pickups over faulty reverse lights   

Dearborn, MI  – June 25, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 16,375 2022–2023 F-150 Lightning battery electric vehicles (BEV) due to a problem with the rear lights, which could increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Recall summary  

In the affected vehicles, the rear light bar mounted on the tailgate may sustain damage during assembly or due to extreme loads on the tailgate in low temperatures. This could lead to microcracks forming on the lens, allowing moisture to enter the light assembly and cause the lights to either flicker or stop working altogether.       

Recall risks

Improperly working reverse lights may fail to notify other road users of the driver’s intentions, causing them to be unaware that the vehicle is reversing. This may lead to a crash or an injury.

Other Ford recalls

In May 2023, Ford recalled 2004–2006 Ranger pickups over airbags failing to deploy in a crash. This was the second recall announced for the issue, following a previous one made in March 2023.   

Earlier this month, Ford also announced that it was recalling 29,607 vehicles including the Ford Bronco, Ford Ranger and Ford Super Duty over faulty load labels, as reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the faulty reverse light bar with a new unit free of charge. Ford will reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs before the recall was announced.  

Owners will be notified by June 20, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 16,000 electric pickups are affected by this Ford reverse light recall. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls F-150 electric pickups over faulty reverse lights   

Ford recalls SUVs, pickups over faulty load labels

Dearborn, MI – June 17, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F) has issued a recall for 29,607 vehicles over inaccurate weight labels, which could lead users to overload the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash.

The recall covers the following models:

  • 2022–2023 Ford Bronco
  • 2019–2023 Ford Ranger   
  • 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty

Recall summary

The tire & loading information (TREAD) label – usually located on the “driver’s side door edge” – shows users maximum loads that a vehicle can safely carry.  

The affected vehicles carry the wrong label which may result in them being overloaded.

Recall risks

Excessive loads that can compromise the vehicle’s stability and control, increasing the risk of an accident.  

Other Ford recalls

In December 2022, Ford recalled 18,808 SD pickup trucks over the risk of stalling or rolling away, as reported.

In May 2023, the manufacturer issued a second recall for 232,000 Ranger pickups with non-inflating airbags, also as reported.

Finally, just last week, over 175,000 Bronco SUVs were recalled due to unaccessible seat belt latches.

The repair

The manufacturer will mail the owners of the affected vehicles updated labels with the correct information. Owners can also go to the nearest dealership to have them put on free-of-charge.

Letters with more information will be mailed by July 12, 2023.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 29,000 vehicles are affected by this Ford TREAD label issue. To run a Ford recall check or check for more Ford recalls,  please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls SUVs, pickups over faulty load labels

Ford recalls Bronco SUVs over inaccessible seat belt latches

Dearborn, MI – June 11, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F) has issued a recall for 175,550 2021-2023 Bronco SUVs due to an issue which could prevent the car occupants from using seat belts, leading to a higher risk of injury. The issue affects models that have the 5-door body style.   

Recall summary

The seat belt latch plate connects to the buckle, securing the seat belt and occupant in place while the vehicle is moving. The latch plate is stowed away when not in use to protect it from damage.

In the affected vehicles, users may be unable to reach the stowed latch plates on the front seat belts. This could prevent them from using seat belts when traveling aboard the vehicle.      

Recall risks

If occupants are unable to use the seat belts, this places them at risk of injury as they will be unsecured in their seats when a crash occurs.  

Other Ford recalls

In June 2022, 2021-2022 Ford Bronco SUVs were also the subject of a recall by Ford, due to a faulty child safety lock that increases the risk of injury to smaller occupants, as reported.

In November 2022, the same vehicles were recalled due to an an issue with the rearview display that continued to show the rear camera image even when Reverse gear was no longer engaged, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will attach a sliding clip stop to the driver and front passenger seat belts, making them more accessible for use by occupants. The remedy will be performed free of charge, and Ford will reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs before the recall was announced.

Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified by July 6, 2023.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 175,000 vehicles are affected by this Ford front seat belt issue. To run a Ford recall check or check for more Ford recalls,  please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls Bronco SUVs over inaccessible seat belt latches

Ford issues third round of Explorer, Lincoln recalls over faulty rearview cameras

Dearborn, MI – June 3, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F), which owns the Lincoln brand, is recalling 422,201 SUVs with rearview cameras that may fail, resulting in an increased risk of an accident.

This recall comes on the back of a “minor crash” and is the third one of its kind since 2021.

The following models are affected:

  • 2020 – 2023 Ford Explorer
  • 2020 – 2023 Lincoln Navigator
  • 2020 – 2022 Lincoln Corsair

Recall summary

Owners of the affected vehicles may experience loss of video feed when either going in Reverse or when the 360-degree camera view is selected and the vehicle is being driven at a low speed. 

Recall risks

For more on risks of this recall, please see this recent article about a similar issue by Honda.  

Background of the recall

Ford originally recalled some of the affected vehicles in 2021. That recall had to be expanded in February of this year as the original remedy proved to be insufficient, as reported.

Following the second recall, the manufacturer received 250 warranty claims alleging loss of the video feed in cars that previously received repairs. The defect resulted in at least one minor accident.

Other Ford recalls

In July 2022, a lawsuit was filed against Ford involving the 2021 Ford Expedition and 2021 Lincoln Navigator, alleging that the two models presented an increased risk of fire while being driven or when parked and switched off. 

The Lincoln Navigator and Corsair were also the subjects of a Ford recall announced in January 2023 because of an issue with the seatbelt chime, as reported.

The repair

The remedy for the issue is being developed and will be available free of charge once ready. Ford will also reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs before the recall was issued. 

Owners of the affected vehicles will receive letters with more information by June 30, 2023.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 420,000 vehicles are affected by this Ford and Lincoln rearview camera issue. To run a Ford recall check or check for more Ford and Lincoln recalls,  please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloFord issues third round of Explorer, Lincoln recalls over faulty rearview cameras

Ford issues second recall for Ranger pickups with faulty airbags 

Dearborn, MI  – May 14, 2023 – Ford (NYSE: F) is recalling 231,942 2004 – 2006 Ford Ranger pickup trucks because their passenger airbags may fail to deploy in a crash. This reduces occupant protection, increasing the risk of injury. 

This recall is an expansion and replacement of one conducted just recently, in March 2023, over the same issue. 

Recall summary  

The affected vehicles originally had Takata airbags which, as reported, are prone to exploding when deploying. In 2017 and 2018, these airbags were swapped for new ones that did not have that defect. However, dealers botched the repair, resulting in airbags that may not inflate during a crash.

Recall risks

An airbag that fails to deploy in a crash ups the risk of an injury. 

Background of the recall

The manufacturer already recalled a range of these vehicles for the exact same issue in March, as reported. However, in April, it found one additional vehicle that was not included in the original recall that had an incorrectly installed airbag. On the back of that, Ford decided to conduct the current recall, expanding the number of vehicles to 230,000 from 98,000. The current recall supersedes the one conducted in March.

Other Ford recalls

In February Ford issued a second recall for Lincoln Navigator, Corsair and Ford Explorer SUVs due to malfunctioning rearview cameras. The first recall was done in October 2021 but proved to be insufficient, as reported.

In March, Ford recalled over a million vehicles whose brakes may become less responsive than usual due to a brake fluid leak, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will reinstall the airbags properly. The repairs are free of charge. It is not clear if vehicles that already had their airbags replaced will need a new remedy. Contact your dealer to find out if that is the case.

Owners should also receive letters with more information between May 22, 2023 and May 26, 2023.

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 230,000 trucks are affected by this Ford airbag recall. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFord issues second recall for Ranger pickups with faulty airbags 

Ford recalls Lincoln and Fusion cars with brake issues

Dearborn, MI – March 26, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F), which owns the Lincoln brand, is recalling 1.28 million vehicles over a problem with the front brake hose. This augments the risk of a crash and injury. 

The following vehicles are affected:

  • 2013 Lincoln MKZ
  • 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  • 2015 Lincoln MKZ
  • 2016 Lincoln MKZ
  • 2017 Lincoln MKZ
  • 2018 Lincoln MKZ
  • 2013 Ford  Fusion
  • 2014 Ford Fusion
  • 2015 Ford Fusion
  • 2016 Ford Fusion
  • 2017 Ford Fusion
  • 2018 Ford Fusion

There was a related recall in 2020 and this recall is likely the result of an ongoing U.S government investigation.

Recall summary

The brake hose is made of rubber and delivers the brake fluid that ensures that the vehicle will slow down or stop safely when the driver steps on the brake pedal. 

In the affected vehicles, the front brake hose may rupture as a result of certain driving conditions like frequent full suspension and steering movement. This could lead to a brake fluid leak that worsens over time.  

Recall risks

A brake fluid leak reduces the responsiveness of the vehicle’s brakes and forces the driver to increase braking effort. This could lead to a higher risk of a crash. 

Warning signs

Drivers may notice that they need to step on the brake pedal harder than usual. The brake fluid warning icon will also light up on the dashboard.

Background of the recall

Ford first noticed the defect in Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles which shared the same brake hose material as the vehicles in question in 2018, eventually leading to a recall of these models in August 2020.

Afterwards, Ford received complaints alleging brake hose failure on vehicles that were not included in that recall. This eventually led to the present announcement.

Coincidentally, the U.S. auto-safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has been investigating Ford to see if over 1.7 million of Lincoln and MKZ vehicles needed to be recalled on the back of 50 complaints alleging brake hose rupture.  This recall is likely the result of that investigation. However, for reasons that are unclear, it is not mentioned on the agency’s investigation page, as it is customary in such cases.

Other Ford recalls

In January 2023, Ford recalled 2020–2023 101,001 Lincoln Navigator and Corsair SUVs over a problem with the seat belt warning system, as reported.

In February 2023, Ford also issued a recall for 382,759 vehicles including the 2020–2023 Ford Expedition as well as the Lincoln Corsair Aviator over the rear view camera’s failure to display an image when the transmission is shifted to Reverse. This was the second recall involving the issue.  

There are no other recent Ford Fusion recalls.

The repair

Dealers will replace the front brake hoses with new ones made from stronger material free of charge. Anyone who has paid for their own repairs before the recall was announced will be reimbursed. 

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by April 28, 2023.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 1.2 million vehicles are affected by this Ford brake hose recall. To see if your vehicle is among them or to check for more Lincoln  recalls, run a Ford or Lincoln recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls Lincoln and Fusion cars with brake issues

Ford recalls Ranger pickups again over non-inflating airbags, injury risk

Dearborn, MI – May 14, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F) has issued a recall that expands and supersedes the one below after it found more vehicles were affected by this issue than originally thought. If your Ranger already had its airbag replaced, please contact your dealer to see if you need a new remedy or an inspection.

Dearborn, MI – March 18, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F) is issuing a recall for 98,550 2004–2006 Ranger pickup trucks because the passenger airbags on these vehicles were not installed correctly after a series of previous recalls. This increases the risk of an injury in a crash as the airbag may not inflate.

Recall summary

The front passenger airbag rapidly inflates when a crash is detected, shielding the occupant from directly hitting the dashboard or windshield.   

In the affected vehicles, the airbag inflator – which is what is responsible for the airbag going off – was improperly installed following several Takata airbag recalls.

Recall risks

The airbag may not inflate in a crash, increasing the likelihood of injury.

Background of the recall 

There was a Ford Ranger recall in December 2017 due to the degradation of airbags made by Takata. In 2018, the manufacturer recalled additional vehicles whose inflators were also at risk of rupturing.

By November 2022, Ford initiated an investigation into the repairs following reports that the replacement airbag inflators were improperly installed. This resulted in the present recall.

Other Ford recalls

In November 2022, Ford recalled Bronco SUVs due to the dashboard screen’s failure to display the rearview image whenever the Reverse gear is engaged.

In January 2023, Ford issued a recall for Lincoln Navigator and Lincoln Corsair SUVs due to a defective chime that drivers may not hear when being prompted to wear their seat belts.   

The repair

Dealers will reinstall the front passenger airbag inflator free of charge. Ford will reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs before the recall was officially announced. 

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by March 31, 2023.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 98,000 vehicles are affected by this Ford airbag inflator recall. To see if your vehicle is among them, run a Ford recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls Ranger pickups again over non-inflating airbags, injury risk

Ford issues second round of Explorer, Lincoln recalls over rearview camera issue

Dearborn, MI – February 4, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F), which owns the Lincoln brand, is recalling 382,759 vehicles due to a problem with the rearview camera. This increases the risk of a crash. This recall “expands and replaces” one conducted in 2021 for the same issue. 

The latest round covers the following models:

  • 2020 – 2023 Ford Explorer
  • 2020 – 2023 Lincoln Aviator
  • 2020 – 2022 Lincoln Corsair

Recall summary

On affected models equipped with the 360-degree surround camera system, the video output may fail due to a software error. 

The part involved in this recall is the rearview camera with multiple part numbers, including LB5T-19G490-D,  LC5T-19G490-D and LJ7T-19H423-A.

Recall risks

For more on risks of this recall, please see this recent article about a similar Cadillac issue.

Background of the recall

This is the second recall for this issue which follows on the back of over 2,000 warranty claims. The first one was conducted in October 2021, as reported. However, the remedy that was performed was insufficient to address the issue and the manufacturer continued to receive complaints about the camera failure. 

There have been at least 17 “minor accidents” related to the issue. No injuries have been reported.

Other Ford recalls

There was a Lincoln recall last month due to defective seat belt chimes, as reported. The recall included over 100,000 of Lincoln Navigator and Corsair SUVs.

In May 2022, there was a Ford Explorer recall due to an issue with the vehicles’ drivetrain which may cause the cars to roll away when parked, as reported.

In December, Ford super-duty pickups were recalled over the same issue.

The repair

Dealers will once again update the related software on the affected vehicles free of charge. Ford will reimburse drivers who paid for their own repairs.

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by February 24, 2023.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 382,000 vehicles are affected by this Ford rearview camera recall. To see if your vehicle is among them, run a Ford recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloFord issues second round of Explorer, Lincoln recalls over rearview camera issue

Ford recalls Transit vans over inoperative HVAC controls

Dearborn, MI – November 8, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 31,339 vehicles with inoperative heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system controls, which may lead to reduced visibility under certain weather conditions. This increases the risk of a crash.

This recall includes the 2022-2023 Ford Transit vehicles.

Recall summary

The Ford Transit HVAC system includes not only heating and cooling, but also the defog and defrost function, which blows air onto the windshield to clear condensation or frost.

Due to a software error, the HVAC system in the subject vehicles may stop responding to its controls.

The component in question is the software for the remote climate control module, with part numbers NK4T-18C612-AC and NK4T-18C612-BC.

Recall risks

The inability to control the defrost or defog function may limit the driver’s ability to see through the windshield, upping the risk of a crash and injury.

Other recent Ford recalls

In October, more than 11,000 Maverick pickup trucks were recalled due to brake lights that could illuminate even when the brakes were not in use. This could be confusing to other motorists and increase the risk of a crash.

In the same month, nearly 300,000 Ford and Lincoln vehicles were recalled over a cloudy rearview camera image. Any interference or obstruction to the driver’s rear view could lead to a crash, especially when reversing.

Among other Ford Transit recalls was one in mid-June, when more than 30,000 vehicles were recalled over an instrument panel malfunction

The repair

To remedy the Ford HVAC issue, dealers will perform an update on the remote climate control module software at no cost to owners.

Owners will be notified of the remedy program between November 7, 2022 and November 14, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 30,000 vehicles are included in this recall. To perform a Ford recall check on your vehicle, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Senamile NkosiFord recalls Transit vans over inoperative HVAC controls