Ford recalls vehicles for stalling during driving

Ford recalls vehicles for stalling during driving

September 12, 2021 Mikaela Bolker

Dearborn, MI – September 12, 2021 – Ford (NYSE: F) has announced a recall for 27,604 Ford Super Duty F-350 pickups due to the risk of the vehicles stalling while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. 

The recall includes the following vehicles:

  • 2020 Ford F-350 SD
  • 2021 Ford F-350 SD

Recall summary 

The driveshaft is what transmits power from a car’s engine to the vehicle’s wheels and keeps the vehicle moving and axles are shafts that deliver power to the wheels and rotate with them. Due to a supplier error, the drivershafts in the recalled vehicles may separate from the rear axles, resulting in the vehicle stalling or “unintended movement” while it is stopped.

Risks

A driveshaft that disconnects can lead to a loss of power while driving,  increasing the risk that the car may be hit from behind. Unintended movement may result in the car hitting people or property behind it. Both of these increase the risk of an injury to the car occupants and people around them.

Warning signs

The driver may experience vibration and/or shaking while driving at highway speeds or shuddering upon acceleration.

Other Ford recalls

This is not the first time that Ford F-350 diesel recalls have occurred.  In March 2021, there was a Ford F-350 recall due to incorrect information on labels in the vehicles, as reported. In addition, there have been two other large Ford recalls due to the concern of vehicle rollaway.  In June 2021, 4,436 2021 Ford F-150 pickup trucks were recalled due to faulty driveshafts, During the same month, 192,080 Ford Transit Connect vans were recalled due to the risk of a rollaway. 

Repair

The repair is a free repair or part replacement at any Ford or Lincoln Dealership. Owners were set to be notified starting August 16, 2021. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall? 

Approximately 27,604 vehicles are part of this Ford recall. To check if your vehicle is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Mikaela BolkerFord recalls vehicles for stalling during driving
Ford recalls more than 40,000 vans due to faulty seat belts

Ford recalls more than 40,000 vans due to faulty seat belts

September 5, 2021 Bojan Popic

Dearborn, MI – September 5, 2021  – Ford (NYSE:F) has recalled 42,493 vehicles with faulty child restraint systems, which may increase the risk of injury during a crash. This recall include the following vans: 

  • 2021 Ford Transit 
  • 2022 Ford Transit
  • 2021 Ford Transit Connect 

The affected component is the “front passenger seat belt automatic locking retractor”, with part numbers LK41-1461294-A/B/D/E. This is the second recall caused by faulty seat belts provided by the Swedish-American supplier Autoliv.

Recall summary  

As reported, seat belt retractors are used to “lock up” the seat belt to protect the occupant from getting thrown from the seat in the event of a crash. There are two types of retractors – the emergency locking retractor (ELR) and the automatic locking retractor (ALR). 

While the ELR only reacts when the system detects a crash, the ALR locks up right away after the seat belt is buckled. For that reason, it is often used to secure a child seat.

In recalled cars, the ALR in the front passenger seat deactivates “after the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor,” causing the child to be inadequately restrained. The defect is caused by “out of tolerance” components provided by the supplier.

Warning signs 

Drivers may notice that an “audible clicking noise” that occurs when the ALR function is active but stops before the seat belt is “fully retracted.” This is the same warning sign provided by Daimler for its recent Mercedes-Benz recall for the same issue.

Risks

A seat belt with a faulty automatic locking reactor will not secure the child seat firmly in its place. This increases the risk of injury during a crash or sudden stops.   

Other Ford Transit recalls

In June, Ford recalled close to 200,000 vans – including the 2021 Ford Transit Connect vehicle – over the risk of a rollaway. The 2020 and 2019 Transit Connect vehicles were recalled in November of last year due to the risk of engine fire, as reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the seat belt assembly free of charge, if necessary.  Notifications will be sent to owners beginning September 13, 2021.  

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Ford recall includes more than 40,000 vehicles. To check for Ford recalls, use  MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFord recalls more than 40,000 vans due to faulty seat belts
US government scrutinizes recent Ford rearview camera recall

US government scrutinizes recent Ford rearview camera recall

August 27, 2021 Rebecca Rand ,

Washington, DC – August 27, 2021 – The arm of the U.S. government that regulates vehicle safety is conducting an investigation to determine whether Ford (NYSE:F) timely and adequately handled a recent recall related to faulty rearview cameras.

The investigation is examining all models included in the original Ford recall of 620,246 cars, which launched in September of last year:

  • Ford F series trucks, including the 2020 Ford F-150, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD trucks
  • 2020 Ford Explorer SUVs
  • 2020 Ford Mustang vehicles
  • 2020 Ford Transit vans
  • 2020 Ford Expedition SUVs
  • 2020 Ford Escape  SUVs
  • 2020 Ford Ranger trucks
  • 2020 Ford Edge SUVs
  • 2020 Lincoln Nautilus crossovers
  • 2020 Lincoln Corsair compact SUVs

Summary  

The regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened an investigation on August 3 to evaluate the “timeliness and scope” of Ford’s recall process, as well as whether the company complied with all the reporting requirements mandated by law. 

Prior to the investigation and the original September recall, NHTSA received 14 complaints alleging rearview camera malfunction on Escape, Lincoln Corsair and F-150 vehicles. It is not clear whether these vehicles were included in the original recall or what specifically prompted the regulator to open the investigation.

Long wait for repairs

Owners, however, have been complaining about long wait-times for repairs, and several drivers allege that their Fords have identical backup camera problems, but their vehicle was not included in the recall. Both sets of complaints point to potential issues with Ford’s ability to offer repairs to all the right cars in a timely manner.

The parts for some of the vehicles included in the original recall were on the back order as recently as this month, despite the fact that Ford announced that the repair was available last November.

Vehicle ‘full of gremlins’

At least one owner alleged that the failure of the backup camera system also caused “the forward-collision warning [turn] on by itself, ​​causing the vehicle” to abruptly stop in the middle of the road. Another driver succinctly summarized the issues he or she was having by stating that the vehicle was “full of gremlins” and needed to be “heavily watched.”

Next steps

NHTSA will investigate whether the recall needs to be expanded or adjusted. The agency did not disclose how long this process is expected to take. If NHTSA decides the recall took too long or failed to include all the cars in need of repairs, it may issue fines against Ford.

Original recall

The original recall concerned the back-up camera display, which would sometimes go blank and fail to show drivers what was behind the car, as reported. As of July 23, 2021, close to 289,000 recalled vehicles were repaired, according to information provided to NHTSA by Ford.

Other Ford recalls

In April 2020, the company recalled Ford Rangers because the gear position display may be inaccurate, which could cause a crash. The company recalled Ford Mustangs five months later over an issue with faulty brake pedals.

In 2019 and 2020, there were six 2020 F-150 Ford recalls –  apart from the one that is being investigated – including one “reduced seat back strength” and faulty daytime lights, according to NHTSA records.

Is your vehicle part of this recall or a future recall?

Over 620,000 vehicles are implicated in NHTSA’s investigation into Ford. Check back for any updates using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandUS government scrutinizes recent Ford rearview camera recall
Ford recalls Lincoln Aviators for risk of electrical fire

Ford recalls Lincoln Aviators for risk of electrical fire

August 26, 2021 Rebecca Rand ,

Dearborn, MI – August 26, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) has recalled 33,298 luxury SUVs with a wiring issue that could cause an electrical fire. The recall includes 2020 – 2021 Lincoln Aviator SUVs with 3.0L gasoline engines and concerns a faulty wiring harness.

Recall summary  

The recalled Lincoln Aviators use something called a wiring harness to secure the many wires in the car so that they do not rub against one another or other parts of the car or get bent out of shape. This makes sure the insulating rubber does not get worn down, exposing live wires and damaging various electronics in the SUV. 

Due to a design error, one of the wiring harnesses in the recalled cars might not be secured properly, potentially putting the wires in contact with the compressor of the car air conditioning (A/C) system, which is one of the most important parts of the A/C.

This can result in the damage to the A/C and also cause a short-circuit that can grow into a car fire.

Lincoln and Ford recalls

This is not the first batch of Ford or Lincoln cars recently affected by faulty wiring harnesses. About two years ago, the automaker recalled over 10,000 2020 Ford Explorers for a near-identical issue with the wiring harness and the air conditioner pulley. Lincoln MKX and Nautilus cars were recalled a year ago for a wiring harness defect affecting the airbags.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator has been recalled ten times in total, including this recall. Prior to the wiring harness issue, the car has been recalled for the loss of the rearview camera image and due to the risk of rollaway, fuel leaks and fire, as reported.

Risks

Read  more about the risks of vehicle fires, and what to do if one occurs, in this article about a fire-related BMW recall.

The repair

Ford and Lincoln dealers will install a tie strap to secure the faulty wiring harness out the way. Dealers will also check the wiring harness and air conditioner compressor belt for damage and repair them, if needed. All these services are provided free of charge. Owners should have been notified by mail between July 30 and August 6.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 33,000 vehicles are included in this Ford Lincoln recall. To see if your SUV is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandFord recalls Lincoln Aviators for risk of electrical fire
Ford tells owners not to drive F-series pickups with wheels that may fall off

Ford tells owners not to drive F-series pickups with wheels that may fall off

August 2, 2021 Rebecca Rand

Dearborn, MI – August 2, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) has recalled 17,616 pickup trucks with potentially loose wheel hub extenders that may cause the wheel to fall off of the car. This defect is serious enough where Ford is telling owners NOT TO DRIVE the car, even to the dealership.

It includes the following vehicles:

  • 2021 Ford F350 SD pickups
  • 2021 Ford F450 SD pickups
  • 2021 Ford F550 SD pickups
  • 2021 Ford F600 SD pickups

Recall summary 

The recall concerns the front wheel hub extender, which extends the size of the wheel hub on pickups with wide front body axles and dual rear wheels. The extenders – that are typically used for aesthetic purposes or to provide more stability while driving – may not be screwed in all the way.

Background of the recall

The Michigan factory where the trucks’ axles were assembled has an “automated torque station” that checks to make sure everything is screwed in properly. Ford believes the recalled trucks must have bypassed this checkpoint and estimates that 80% of the recalled trucks have loose hub extenders.

Risks

This defect puts the wheel hub extenders and the wheels at risk of detaching from the truck, greatly increasing the risk of a crash. Ford has received two reports of wheels falling off trucks as a result of this flaw. Neither resulted in an accident or injuries.

Detached wheels not only put the driver at risk of losing control, but the tires themselves become a dangerous, fast-moving road hazard that could cause other cars to crash.

Warning signs

According to the manufacturer, drivers might, while driving, experience vibration and noise, as the nuts loosen.

The repair

The risks posed by this defect are high enough that Ford is telling owners NOT to drive their recalled car — not even to the dealership. Dealers have been told to send someone out to fix the car, and if this is not possible, to tow the car to the dealership. The dealer will check that the hub extenders are screwed in properly. If the hub extenders are loose, the dealer will tighten them. This inspection and repair, including necessary towing services, will be offered free of charge.

Owner notifications and instructions

Ford mailed notifications to owners in mid-June. The notifications include instructions for car-savvy owners on how to perform the inspection/repair themselves.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 17,000 vehicles are included in this Ford recall. Check your truck for Ford recalls using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandFord tells owners not to drive F-series pickups with wheels that may fall off
Ford recalls vehicles that may stall or roll away

Ford recalls vehicles that may stall or roll away

June 18, 2021 Mikaela Bolker

Dearborn, MI – June 18, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) has announced a recall for 4,436 2021 Ford F-150 pickup trucks due to faulty driveshafts, which are components of the vehicle responsible for powering them. This defect can cause sudden loss of power or “unintended” movement while parked without warning, increasing the risk of injury due to a crash. 

The affected part is the driveshaft with multiple part numbers, including ML34-4K145-KHE and ML34-4K145-JHE.

Summary

Recalled vehicles feature a two-piece rear driveshaft that transfers power to the vehicle’s rear wheels. Due to a supplier error, the circlip –  a fastener that connects the two pieces together – was not installed properly. The installation issue may result in the pieces of the driveshaft separating, which in turn may cause a sudden loss of vehicle power or “unintended” vehicle movement when “the parking brake is not applied.”

Risks

Stalling while driving may result in the driver getting hit from behind, which may create a multi-car pileup and cause severe injuries. If the car rolls away while parked, it may hit people or inanimate objects, causing injuries or property damage.

Warning signs

Drivers may experience a “clunking or banging noise” before the car stalls or rolls away.

Other Ford recalls

Earlier this month, the manufacturer recalled close to 200,000 Transit vans for the risk of rollaway. In December of last year, Ford issued a recall for 10,905 vehicles with faulty driveshafts, including the 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUV.

Repair

Owners were sent letters instructing them to take their cars to a dealership for assessment and possible driveshaft replacement on June 14. The assessment and replacement, if necessary, will be free. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall? 

An estimated 4,436 vehicles are part of this Ford recall. To see if your Ford 2021 F150 is one of them and to do a Ford Recall check,  use Motorsafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Mikaela BolkerFord recalls vehicles that may stall or roll away
Ford recalls vehicles due to risk of rollaway

Ford recalls vehicles due to risk of rollaway

June 10, 2021 Mikaela Bolker

Dearborn, MI– June 10, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) has announced a recall for 192,080 vans due to the risk of a rollaway when the car is placed in “Park.”  This is caused by the missing links between the shifter cable – which is what puts a car into a driver’s desired gear – and transmission. 

The component in question is the shifter cable bushing; part number DT1P-7E395-AB.

The recall includes the following vans:

  • 2013 Ford Transit Connect
  • 2014 Ford Transit Connect
  • 2015 Ford Transit Connect
  • 2016 Ford Transit Connect
  • 2017 Ford Transit Connect
  • 2018 Ford Transit Connect
  • 2019 Ford Transit Connect
  • 2020 Ford Transit Connect
  • 2021 Ford Transit Connect

Summary

The missing links are called bushings and their role is to “act as a cushion” between the shifter cable and transmission so that the car can shift into the appropriate gear when the lever is switched. Due to potential “thermal degradation” and contaminant exposure, the bushing may “degrade or detach.” 

This can cause the vehicle to shift into the wrong gear without proper instrument panel notification, meaning that it may appear that the vehicle is, for example, in “Park,” while it is actually not. 

Risks

This defect can cause the van to roll away unexpectedly when parked, which may result in it hitting the driver or pedestrians or causing property damage. This is particularly dangerous if the van is parked on the incline.

Warning signs

Drivers may be alerted to this problem if the instrument panel display position on the cluster does not match the gear shift lever position. They may also notice that when they shift into a gear, the vehicle responds differently than it should based on the transmission gear state. Finally, if the engine was turned off in a gear other than “Park” – regardless of the gear lever position – the car may not restart.

Other Ford Transit recalls

In 2017, there was a recall issued for over 1 million Ford Transit vehicles due to faulty automatic transmission.  In November of last year, 2019-2020 Transit Connect vans were recalled due to engine fire risk.

Repair

Owners will be notified by mail starting June 28 and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer. The dealer will replace one of the bushings and add a protective cap over the other  This service will be free. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall? 

Approximately 192,080 vehicles are part of this Ford recall. To do a Ford recall check, use Motorsafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Mikaela BolkerFord recalls vehicles due to risk of rollaway
Ford recalls Explorer SUVs for fly-away roof rail covers

Ford recalls Explorer SUVs for fly-away roof rail covers

May 12, 2021 Rebecca Rand

Dearborn, MI – May 12, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) has issued a recall of 616,967 SUVs whose roof rail covers may detach and fly off the vehicle while driving. Ford is recalling these vehicles:  

  • 2016 Ford Explorer
  • 2017 Ford Explorer
  • 2018 Ford Explorer
  • 2019 Ford Explorer

The affected part is the “roof rail cover,” with multiple part numbers, including FB5Z-78551A46-BA.

Recall summary  

The recall concerns the roof rail covers, which partly cover the roof rails used to hold cargo (such as a kayak) on top of the car. The covers, after being exposed to sunlight and other wear and tear, may detach from the car and fly off into the road, creating a road hazard for other drivers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) brought the issue to Ford’s attention a year ago, after receiving 11 complaints of roof rail covers falling off. 

Footnotes

According to Ford, some Explorers have metal plated roof rail covers that do not have this problem. Those vehicles will not be recalled. To see if your 2019 Ford Explorer Limited, for example, needs to be repaired, use our VIN lookup tool.

Warning signs

Drivers with insecure roof rail covers may notice louder wind noise or squeaks and rattles while driving. 

Risks

If a roof rail cover flies off the car while driving, it may force other drivers to make quick maneuvers to avoid it, increasing the risk of a crash. Read more about the dangers of road debris in this article about a recent Land Rover recall over fly-away spoilers. 

Other Ford Explorer recalls

The 2016 Ford Explorer was recalled in November of last year because of a defective part that connects the engine to the front axle, which “transmits the power from the vehicle to its wheels,” as reported.

 The issue can result in the car stalling or losing its ability to stay in park, increasing the risk of death or injury for the car occupants, other motorists and pedestrians.

The repair

Ford or Lincoln dealers will use plastic pins to secure the roof rail more tightly to the roof of the car, free of charge. Owners will receive more  instructions by mail between June 28 and July 2. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 617,000 vehicles are included in this recall. Use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool to do a Ford recall check.

Rebecca RandFord recalls Explorer SUVs for fly-away roof rail covers
Ford recalls Lincoln Aviators over faulty backup camera display

Ford recalls Lincoln Aviators over faulty backup camera display

April 9, 2021 Rebecca Rand ,

Dearborn, MI – April 9, 2021 – Ford  (NYSE:F) – which owns the Lincoln brand – has recalled 34,952 luxury SUVs  whose backup camera displays may stop working. The recall includes the 2020 Lincoln Aviator and the 2021 Lincoln Aviator.

The affected part is called the “Image Processing Module – B” and has multiple part numbers, including  LC5T-19H423-AF and LC5T-19H423-AG.

Recall summary  

The image processing module helps process everything the backup camera is “seeing” behind the car, displaying it on the screen up front. Due to a software issue in the recalled Aviators, the module might fail to transmit the video feed to the car’s display screen.

As a result, the driver may see a “blank” or “distorted” image.

Risks

A rearview camera that fails to display what is behind the car reduces the driver’s rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

All cars built after mid-2018 are required to have functioning backup  cameras.  Read more about backup camera safety in this article about malfunctioning cameras in Nissan cars.

Other Ford backup camera recalls

In September, Ford recalled over 600,000 vehicles for a similar issue, as reported. The recall included Lincoln Nautilus crossovers and Lincoln Corsair compact SUVs.

The repair

Ford and Lincoln dealers will update the image processing module’s software for free. Ford will send owners notification letters with more information about when and how to get the repair starting May 19.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 35,000 vehicles are included in this Lincoln recall. To perform a Ford recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandFord recalls Lincoln Aviators over faulty backup camera display
Ford recalls vehicles in search of 19 faulty Continental tires

Ford recalls vehicles in search of 19 faulty Continental tires

March 25, 2021 Rebecca Rand

December 9, 2021 Update – Ford (NYSE:F) is has remedied issues with 3,258 F-series trucks and Ford Escapes suffering from Continental Tires air loss issues. 369 vehicles were also deemed unreachable and none were removed from the recall.

Dearborn, MI – March 25, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 15,769 vehicles to find 19 Continental brand tires at risk of rupturing. The recall includes 2019 Ford Escape compact SUVs and Ford F series trucks, specifically:

  • 2018 Ford F 150
  • 2018 Ford F 250 SD
  • 2019 Ford F 250 SD
  • 2020 Ford F 250 SD
  • 2018 Ford F 350 SD
  • 2019 Ford F 350 SD
  • 2020 Ford F 350 SD 

The affected part is Continental tire with multiple part numbers, including CJ5C-1508-AA and JC3C-1508-ZA.

Recall summary  

The Continental tire recall has recently affected several major car manufacturers, including General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, and Nissan.

Due to a manufacturing error, these tires were cured for too long, making them prone to rupture. Curing is what sets rubber tires in their final shape. 

This recall follows on the heels of a recent Nissan Continental tire recall where the manufacturer has also recalled a large number of cars to find just a few defective tires.

Risks

In addition to rupturing, the tire tread, which touches the road, could also split off from the rest of the tire. Both of these events could cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle and crash, especially if they occur at highway speeds.

Warning signs and safety tips

Other automakers recalling Continental tires, like Mercedes-Benz, have said a bulge or a “bubble” on the tire tread is a sign of a problem. For information on what to do if you notice a bulge or if your tires blow out while driving, please refer to this article about Nissan’s Continental tire recall.

The repair

Ford dealers will inspect numbers on the tires’ walls and replace any that match the list of suspect tires from Continental. If the dealer finds a match, they will also replace the tire on the opposite of the car and move the newest tires to the rear axle. Owners will be notified about the recall the week of March 29.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 15,000 vehicles are included in this Nissan recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandFord recalls vehicles in search of 19 faulty Continental tires
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