Ford recalls vehicles over instrument panel malfunction

Dearborn, MI – June 25, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 30,244 vehicles whose instrument panel displays may fail to light up. The driver may not be able to see the various gauges and warning lights,  increasing the risk of a crash. 

This recall includes the 2022 Ford Transit vehicles.

The components in question are the 4.2” monochromatic cluster and its software, with part numbers NK4T-10849-B and NK4T-14C026-B.

Recall summary

The instrument panel cluster of the subject vehicles may not light up as expected at startup.

The cause of the malfunction is still unknown.

Recall risks

Failure to illuminate the cluster display could render safety-related telltales and gauges unreadable, increasing the risk of a crash.

Other recent Ford Transit recalls

Earlier this month, the same model was among those recalled over missing tire label information, which could lead to improper tire inflation or incorrect tires and rims.

Prior to that, in April, the 2016 and 2020 Ford Transit Connect vehicles were recalled due to a supplier error leading to front windshields that may detach.

In another notable Ford van recall in September 2021, Transits and Transit Connects were reported to have faulty child restraint systems.

Repair

To remedy the issue, Ford or Lincoln dealers will update the instrument panel cluster software at no cost to car owners. 

Owners should expect to receive information regarding the repair program between July 25, 2022 and July 29, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

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

Senamile NkosiFord recalls vehicles over instrument panel malfunction

Ford recalls SUVs over unexplained fires, advises owners to park away from structures

Dearborn, MI – May 27, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F), which also owns the Lincoln brand, is recalling 39,013 SUVs over mysterious engine-bay fires. These fires, which may happen either while driving or while parked, carry the risk of injury or property damage. 

This recall affects the following vehicles:

  • 2021 Ford Expedition
  • 2021 Lincoln Navigator

Recall summary  

The recalled vehicles can catch fire even when the ignition is turned off. The cause of fires is currently under investigation.

Background of the recall

In March 2022, Ford’s Critical Concern Repair Group (CCRG) opened an investigation into eight reports of vehicle fires and one report of a melted battery junction box. By May, the CCRG knew of 16 fires that were potentially related. According to these reports, fires have started under the hood both while driving and while parked, and even with the ignition turned off.

Recall risks

Vehicle fires carry a wide range of risks, as described in this article about a Hyundai fire-related recall.

Warning signs 

Occupants may notice a “burning smell” or see smoke coming from the passenger side of the engine compartment.

Safety tips

Ford advises owners to park their vehicles outside and away from structures to minimize the risk of damage in the event of a fire. This should prevent additional property damage if an affected SUV catches fire while parked. 

Other Ford recalls

There was a Ford Expedition recall last month due to faulty windshield wiper arms. Inoperable wipers can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. 

Apart from this Lincoln engine fire issue, other recent Lincoln Navigator recalls include one from April this year caused by malfunctioning rearview cameras

The repair

Ford is still investigating the cause of these engine compartment fires, so a solution to the problem is not yet available.

Letters with more information will be sent to owners between May 23, 2022 and July 3, 2022. Additional notices will be sent once a remedy is available.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Ford engine fire recall affects 32,711 Ford Expeditions and 6,302 Lincoln Navigators. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFord recalls SUVs over unexplained fires, advises owners to park away from structures

Ford recalls Explorer SUVs that may roll away

Dearborn, MI — May 15, 2022 — Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 252,936 SUVs over an issue with part of the vehicles’ drivetrain – called a driveshaft – and transmission which may cause them to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

The recall covers the following models: 

  • 2020 –2022 Ford Explorer Hybrid
  • 2020–2022 Ford Explorer Intercept Hybrid
  • 2020 Ford Explorer PHEV
  • 2020 Ford Explorer Police Intercept FHEV

Recall summary

Rear-wheel drive vehicles use a driveshaft to transmit the engine’s power and torque to the rear axle, which in turn transfers the power to wheels, propelling the vehicle forward.

On affected vehicles, the bolt that connects the axle with the driveshaft may fracture because of a supplier error.  This could disconnect the driveshaft from the rear wheels, rendering the vehicle unable to stay in Park and increasing the risk of a rollaway.

The components involved in this recall are the rear axle cover with part number L1MW-4A028-G and the bushing with part number L1MW-4B425-B.

Recall risks

A rollaway ups the risk of a crash and injury.    

Warning signs

Customers and dealer technicians have described the transmission making various sounds such as “loud, grinding, binding, or clunking noises.”

Other Ford recalls 

One recent case of Ford driveshaft issues involved 184,698 F-Series pickup trucks, which were recalled in January over also because of of disconnecting driveshafts, as reported.

In October of last year there was a Ford Explorer recall due to the risk of the driver losing control of the vehicle, also as reported.

A Ford Police Explorer recall was initiated in January 2021, involving contaminated windshield washer fluid that can potentially compromise outward visibility, resulting in an increased risk of accidents.  

The repair

Dealers will replace the bolt and axle covers, if needed. In some cases, a software update will be also be done to ensure that the electronic parking brake will engage when Park is selected. No fees will be collected for the service. Ford will reimburse owners for the costs of any previous repair work involving the component.

Affected owners will be notified between June 6, 2022 and June 10, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 252,000 vehicles are included in this Ford Explorer driveshaft recall. To see if your Ford SUV is part of this Ford recall check, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.  

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls Explorer SUVs that may roll away

Ford recalls F-Series trucks due to increased risk of rollaway

Dearborn, MI — May 14, 2022 — Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 23,165 heavy-duty trucks due to an issue with the vehicles’ transmission. The defect can cause the vehicle to roll when it is supposed to be in Park, which increases the risk of a crash. 

The recall covers the following models, all equipped with 6.7-liter diesel engines: 

  • 2020 Ford Super Duty F-250
  • 2020 Ford Super Duty F-350
  • 2020 Ford Super Duty F-450
  • 2020 Ford Super Duty F-550

Recall summary

A washer inside to a vehicle’s transmission of the recalled vehicles protects the gears against debris, dirt and other contaminants. In the affected vehicles, the washer can disintegrate because of “out-of-specification parts” delivered by a supplier.

When this happens, metallic debris can get into the gearset and damage the gear teeth. Debris from the washer or from the damaged gears can also “prevent the vehicle from achieving or holding Park,” resulting in a rollaway.

The components involved in this recall are the output shaft and planetary carrier #4, with part numbers LC3Z-7060-A and LC3Z-7060-B.

Recall risks

Vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury from a resulting crash.

Warning signs

Drivers may notice that it is harder than usual to shift gears and that shifting may cause grinding, groaning or popping noises. A malfunction indicator may light up on the dashboard and a loss of power may be observed, depending on the damage to the P4 gear teeth.

Other Ford truck recalls 

A Ford F-Series recall of 47,084 2021 F-150 trucks was initiated in April 2022 over a transmission defect caused by a software error. This defect could lead the vehicle to suddenly shift to neutral, preventing the driver from accelerating.

The 2020 and 2021 Ford Super Duty F-350s were the subject of a recall in September 2021 that affected 27,604 vehicles because of the risk of stalling while driving.

The repair

Dealers will inspect the transmission on the affected models and replace part of the gearset free of charge. Ford will reimburse owners for the costs of any previous repair work involving the component.

Affected owners will be notified between May 30, 2022, and June 3, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 23,000 vehicles are included in this Ford transmission recall. To run a Ford recall check on your truck, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls F-Series trucks due to increased risk of rollaway

Ford recalls F-150 trucks whose airbags may fail to deploy

Dearborn, MI — May 7, 2022 — Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 19,175 2022 Ford F-150 pickup trucks due to a problem with the steering column, which connects the steering wheel to the steering mechanism. This may result in the airbag not deploying in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Recall summary

In addition to connecting the wheel to the steering mechanism, the column also allows the driver to pull the steering wheel closer or push it farther away. A device within the column called a squib connector sends a signal to the driver’s side airbag, enabling it to inflate in a crash. 

In the recalled vehicles, a design error resulted in the steering column squib connector wiring being too short during assembly. As a result, the truck’s airbag may not inflate during a crash. 

The component involved in this recall is the instrument panel harness, with multiple part numbers including NL3V-14401-VAB and NL3V-14401-VAD.

Recall risks

The airbag that fails to deploy increases the risk of an injury in a crash.

Warning signs

The airbag warning light will activate on the instrument panel, signaling a problem with the airbag inflator. 

Other Ford recalls 

The 2022 F-150 was also among 391,836 Ford trucks and SUVs recalled earlier this month due to malfunctioning trailer brakes, which could increase the trailer’s stopping distance, as reported. Last month, 157,306 F-150 trucks for the 2021 model year were recalled for faulty windshield wipers

Among recent Ford F-150 recalls was one made for 16,430 2021 F-150 trucks in October 2021 that contained incorrectly routed front seat belts

The repair

Dealers will inspect the Ford F-150 steering column wiring on affected models and install new wiring with the correct length at no charge to the owner. Ford will reimburse owners for the costs of any previous repair work involving the component.

Affected owners will be notified between May 9, 2022, and May 13, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 19,000 vehicles are included in this Ford steering column wire recall. To see if your Ford truck is part of this Ford recall check, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.  

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls F-150 trucks whose airbags may fail to deploy

Ford recalls Escape SUVs over risk of rollaway

Dearborn, MI – May 1, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F) has issued a recall for 96,015 2015 Ford Escape SUVs over a problem over a transmission issue that could cause the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall summary

In order to shift a car into a certain transmission, a driver pushes the shifter handle into the intended position. The handle is linked to the transmission by a shifter cable. The cable is fixed in place by a small rubber part called a bushing.

In the recalled vehicles, the bushing that connects the shift cable to the transmission may be damaged or degraded partially because of heat and humidity. When the bushing is damaged, the shift cable can disconnect from the transmission.

If the handle and the transmission are disconnected, the transmission will not respond to the driver’s input. For example, when the driver moves the gearshift lever into the Park position, the transmission might remain in Drive.

The component involved in this recall is the escape shifter cable bushing, with part number DJ5P-7E395-AC.

Recall risks

This may cause the vehicle to roll away. Similarly, the driver could attempt to shift into or out of Reverse, only to have the vehicle remain in the previous gear. Either situation could increase the risk of a crash.

Warning signs

Drivers may notice that the vehicle’s movement does not correspond to the gear they have selected, even if the correct gear is shown on the instrument panel. If the vehicle’s ignition is switched off while the transmission is not in Park, the engine will not restart.

Other Ford recalls 

In June 2021, Ford issued a similar recall for 192,080 Ford Transit Connect vans spanning the 2013 to 2021 model years. This was also over degraded bushings that caused the transmission shift cable to disconnect, making the transmission unresponsive to driver input.

Past 2015 Ford Escape recalls have addressed issues such as doors that could open while the vehicle was in motion and seat mounting bolts that could fracture.

The repair

Dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing with a more durable version and add a protective cap. The service will be performed free of charge. Ford will reimburse owners for the costs of any previous repair work involving the damaged component.

Affected owners will be notified on or before May 13, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 96,000 vehicles are included in this Ford shifter cable recall. To do a Ford recall check, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls Escape SUVs over risk of rollaway

Ford recalls trucks and SUVs whose wipers may fail

Dearborn, MI — April 23, 2022 —   Ford (NYSE:F), which also owns the Lincoln brand, is recalling 652,996 trucks and full-size SUVs with windshield wipers that may fail to operate. This reduces drivers’ visibility, increasing the risk of a crash and injury.

A long list of affected vehicles includes: 

  • 2020–2021 Ford Expedition
  • 2020–2021 Ford F-150
  • 2020–2022 Ford F-250 SD
  • 2020–2022 Ford F-350 SD
  • 2020–2022 Ford F-450 SD
  • 2020–2022 Ford F-550 SD
  • 2020–2021 Lincoln Navigator

Recall summary  

Windshields in the recalled vehicles are inoperable because of a faulty windshield arm due to a supplier error.

The components in question are the driver-side windshield wiper arms with part numbers ML34-17527-AB or FL34-17527-AA and passenger-side wiper arms with part numbers ML34-17526-AB or FL34-17526-AB.

Recall risks

If the wipers do not work or become detached, the driver will not be able to clean off dirt or water from the vehicle’s windshield. This reduces visibility and may lead to a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Warning signs

In some cases, windshield wipers will move erratically or slowly before failing.

Other Ford recalls

There was an F-150 recall last month, also due to inoperative windshields, as reported.

Earlier this month, there was a Lincoln Navigator recall due to malfunctioning trailer brakes, also as reported. The recall also included the 2022 F-150 and other F-series trucks, among others.

The repair

Dealers will fix the issue by replacing both wiper arms for free. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent between April 23, 2022  and April 27, 2022.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Ford F-150 windshield wipers recall affects more than 650,000 trucks and SUVs. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFord recalls trucks and SUVs whose wipers may fail

Ford recalls vehicles with windshields that may detach

Dearborn, MI – April 17, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 39,720 vehicles with front windshields that may detach during an accident. This increases the risk of injury to the occupants of the car and people around them.

The recall includes the following cargo vans:

  • 2016 Ford Transit Connect
  • 2020 Ford Transit Connect

Recall summary

Due to a supplier error, not enough adhesion was applied to the windshield of the recalled vehicles.

Recall risks

Detaching windshields increase the risk of injury to the driver and passengers during a crash.

Warning signs

Owners could perceive “wind noise,” notice a “water leak” or see that the windshield is loose.

Other recent Ford recalls

Last month over 150,000 F-150 trucks were recalled due to faulty windshield wipers, as reported.

In early September 2021, Ford Transit and Ford Transit Connect vans were recalled over faulty child restraint systems, also as reported.

In June 2021, the 2013 – 2021 Ford Transit Connect vehicles were recalled due to risk of rollaway.

The repair

This Ford windshield repair will involve an inspection by Ford and Lincoln dealers. If the windshields are found to be improperly attached, they will be removed and reinstalled with sufficient adhesive. There will be no cost to the owner. 

Owners are expected to be notified starting on April 18, 2022.   

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Ford Transit recall includes close to 40,000 vehicles. To do a Ford recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Senamile NkosiFord recalls vehicles with windshields that may detach

Ford recalls F-150 pickups with faulty transmission

Dearborn, MI – April 16, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F) issued a recall for 47,084 vehicles over a transmission defect that could cause the vehicle to suddenly shift to neutral while in motion, increasing the risk of a crash.   

The recall includes 2021  Ford F-150 pickup trucks.

Recall summary

During normal driving, it is important for the transmission to remain in gear as much as possible so that the driver can maintain control over the vehicle while it is in motion. 

The transmission in the affected vehicles can shift to neutral on its own while driving due to a software error in the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), which acts as the “brain” of the car, as reported.

The component involved in this recall is the PCM/ECM Calibration Software with multiple part numbers, including ML3A-14C204-BGA and ML3A-14C204-BKA.   

Recall risks

Drivers will be unable to accelerate when the car is in neutral to avoid sudden hazards.

The neutral state also prevents the engine from assisting the brakes in slowing the vehicle down, augmenting the risk of an accident.  

For more information on risks, please visit the following article on a BMW recall due to the same issue.

Warning signs

A warning light in the shape of a wrench will activate on the dashboard when the problem occurs. This will be followed by the transmission shifting into neutral gear, followed by attempts to shift to Park if the vehicle is traveling slower than 2 miles per hour. 

Once the vehicle comes to a complete stop, the shifter will automatically engage Park mode. 

Safety tips

Drivers can temporarily regain use of the transmission by switching the engine off and on again.      

Other Ford F-150 recalls 

There have been at least two F-150 transmission recalls for earlier year-models.

More than 1.2 million Ford F-150 vehicles spanning the 2011 to 2013 model years were recalled in February 2019 for a similar PCM problem, as reported.

Another recall for the same model-years was issued in June 2019 over the same issue, covering more than 107,000 vehicles. 

The repair

Dealers will inspect the PCM on affected vehicles and perform a software update free of charge. Customers who have paid for previous repairs of the component involved will be reimbursed accordingly. 

Affected owners will be notified by May 6, 2022.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 47,000 vehicles are included in this Ford truck recall. To do a Ford recall check,  use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.  

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls F-150 pickups with faulty transmission

Ford recalls vehicle over trailer brakes issues

Dearborn, MI – April 5, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F) has recalled 391,836 trucks and SUVs over malfunctioning trailer brakes. This may increase the stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash and injury.

Vehicles affected by this recall include:  

  • 2021 – 2022 Ford F-150
  • 2022 Ford Expedition
  • 2022 Ford F-250 SD
  • 2022 Ford F-350 SD
  • 2022 Ford F-450 SD
  • 2022 Ford F-550 SD
  • 2022 Ford Maverick
  • 2022 Lincoln Navigator

Recall summary  

All vehicles from this list have a control module that activates the brakes on the trailer when one is attached. Because of a software error, trailer brakes may fail to engage when the driver intends for them to be applied.

The component in question is the software for “Integrated Trailer Relay Module,” with part numbers NZ6T-19J297-AB for the Maverick and  MU5T-19J297-DG for the rest of the affected vehicles. 

Recall risks

Inoperable trailer brakes may increase stopping distance, especially when the trailer is loaded. This could result in a crash, increasing the risk of an injury. There are no warning signs that would alert the driver to the possibility of a malfunction.

Other Ford recalls

Last month, there was an F-150 recall caused by faulty windshield wipers, as reported.

At this time, there are no other Lincoln Navigator recalls that affect the 2022 model-year. However, the 2016-2017 model-years were recently recalled due to decreased brake performance because of a brake fluid leak.

The repair

To fix this issue, dealers will reprogram the trailer brake control module with an updated software version free of charge. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent between April 18, 2022 and April 22, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Ford truck recall affects more than 350,000 vehicles. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFord recalls vehicle over trailer brakes issues