More is better?
Well, the bad old auto company practice of trying to put a “fence” around a recall – the smaller and cheaper the better – is well entrenched. The latest Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ seat-belt recall appears to be a good example, although the ongoing tardiness of NHTSA in posting relevant documents is also in play here.
Ford Motor Company said today it is recalling “certain model year 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured November 2, 2012, to July 31, 2014, and 2013-2015 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 14, 2012, to July 31, 2014. In the event of a crash, heat from the deployment of a seat belt pretensioner may cause a front seat belt anchor cable to fail.”
Ford has conducted previous safety defect recalls for the same life-threatening design problem. NHTSA Campaign ID 16V875000 on Dec. 5, 2016, Ford said it would notify owners, and dealers would apply a protective coating to the seat belt cable, free of charge. The recall began May 16, 2017. Ford in the required NHTSA filing said, “In some of the affected vehicles, the driver and passenger front seat-belt pretensioner cables may separate during a deployment and may not adequately restrain the occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.”
Today’s recall adds additional vehicles to the original population identified in safety recall 16S42. Ford now says it is aware of one report of injury related to this safety defect. This action affects 103,374 vehicles in the United States and federal territories, 4,002 in Canada and 1,023 in Mexico.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Ford Expands Fusion and Lincoln MKZ Seat Belt Recalls
More is better?
Well, the bad old auto company practice of trying to put a “fence” around a recall – the smaller and cheaper the better – is well entrenched. The latest Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ seat-belt recall appears to be a good example, although the ongoing tardiness of NHTSA in posting relevant documents is also in play here.
Ford Motor Company said today it is recalling “certain model year 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured November 2, 2012, to July 31, 2014, and 2013-2015 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 14, 2012, to July 31, 2014. In the event of a crash, heat from the deployment of a seat belt pretensioner may cause a front seat belt anchor cable to fail.”
Ford has conducted previous safety defect recalls for the same life-threatening design problem. NHTSA Campaign ID 16V875000 on Dec. 5, 2016, Ford said it would notify owners, and dealers would apply a protective coating to the seat belt cable, free of charge. The recall began May 16, 2017. Ford in the required NHTSA filing said, “In some of the affected vehicles, the driver and passenger front seat-belt pretensioner cables may separate during a deployment and may not adequately restrain the occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.”
Today’s recall adds additional vehicles to the original population identified in safety recall 16S42. Ford now says it is aware of one report of injury related to this safety defect. This action affects 103,374 vehicles in the United States and federal territories, 4,002 in Canada and 1,023 in Mexico.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.