Ford and Lincoln safety recalls continue for basic defects.
Ford Motor Company is issuing four safety recalls affecting 652,000 vehicles in North America. In a classic “bury the bad news” on the beginning of the U.S. Labor Day holiday, Ford in a release said affected vehicles have the possible lack of seat restraint in the event of a crash, loss of power-steering assist and leaking brake calipers.
Ford says it is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with any of these potentially life-threatening defects.
Safety Recall for Unsafe Seatbacks
Ford is issuing a safety recall for:
- 2018-20 Ford F-150, 2019-20 Ford F-Series Super Duty, 2018-19 Ford Explorer and 2019-20 Ford Expedition vehicles with a manual driver and/or front passenger seat-back recliner mechanism, and
- 2020 Ford Explorer and 2020 Lincoln Aviator vehicles with rear outboard seats with manual seat-back recliner mechanisms.
Vehicles may be missing the third pawl required for seatback strength. A seatback with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism “may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.” The Ford reference number for this recall is 19C07.
Affected vehicles include 2018-20 Ford F-150 vehicles built at:
- Dearborn Assembly from Sept. 14, 2018, to Aug. 7, 2019, and
- Kansas City Assembly from Sept. 11, 2018, through Aug. 2, 2019
2019-20 Ford F-Series Super Duty vehicles built at:
- Kentucky Assembly from Sept. 9, 2018, through July 22, 2019, and
- Ohio Assembly from Sept. 11, 2018, through July 17, 2019
- 2018-19 Ford Explorer vehicles built at Chicago Assembly from Sept. 9, 2018, through March 3, 2019
- 2019-20 Ford Expedition vehicles built at Kentucky Assembly from Oct. 16, 2018, through July 24, 2019
- 2020 Ford Explorer vehicles built at Chicago Assembly from Nov. 21, 2018, through Aug. 21, 2019, and
- 2020 Lincoln Aviator vehicles built at Chicago Assembly from April 12, 2019, through July 16, 2019.
Safety Recall for Potential Loss of Power Steering
Ford is issuing a safety recall for 2013-16 Ford Fusion, 2013-16 Lincoln MKZ, 2015-16 Ford Edge and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles in U.S. states and Canadian provinces with high-corrosion environments.
Vehicles that did not receive proper application of wax coating and are operated in high-corrosion environments associated with exposure to road salt may experience corrosion of the steering gear motor attachment bolts. This may result in the steering gear motor becoming loose or detaching from the gear housing, although the steering gear motor will not separate from the vehicle.
Detachment of the steering-gear motor from the gear housing would result in a loss of power-steering assist. The steering system would default to base manual steering mode, allowing the vehicle to be steered in a safe and controlled manner. The amount of assist supplied is inversely proportional to vehicle speed, with the highest levels of assist provided at lower vehicle speeds. Loss of power-steering assist would require higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may result in an increased risk of a crash.
This action affects 90,646 vehicles in the United States and federal territories, and 8,134 in Canada.
Affected vehicles include:
- 2014-16 Ford Fusion vehicles built at Flat Rock Assembly from Aug. 21, 2013, through June 14, 2015
- 2013-16 Ford Fusion vehicles built at Hermosillo Assembly from Aug. 14, 2012, through June 28, 2015
- 2013-16 Lincoln MKZ vehicles built at Hermosillo Assembly from Oct. 10, 2012, through June 28, 2015
- 2015-16 Ford Edge vehicles built at Oakville Assembly from June 25, 2014, through June 26, 2015, and
- 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles built at Oakville Assembly from Nov. 11, 2014, through June 26, 2015.
Recall of 2019 Ford Fiesta vehicles for front brake caliper-seal contamination
Ford is recalling 2019 Ford Fiesta vehicles for brake calipers that could develop a leak after being exposed to incorrectly labeled assembly fluid in production. A leaking brake caliper could eventually result in reduced braking function or drag, which could lead to the overheating of the brake pads, increasing the risk of a crash.
This action affects 2,624 vehicles in the United States and federal territories. Only 50 of these vehicles have been delivered to customers; the remainder are in dealer inventory and the issue will be remedied prior to customer delivery.
- Affected vehicles were built at Cuautitlán Assembly from July 22, 2019, through Aug. 1, 2019.
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 Motor Recalls 652,000 Vehicles in North America
Ford and Lincoln safety recalls continue for basic defects.
Ford Motor Company is issuing four safety recalls affecting 652,000 vehicles in North America. In a classic “bury the bad news” on the beginning of the U.S. Labor Day holiday, Ford in a release said affected vehicles have the possible lack of seat restraint in the event of a crash, loss of power-steering assist and leaking brake calipers.
Ford says it is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with any of these potentially life-threatening defects.
Safety Recall for Unsafe Seatbacks
Ford is issuing a safety recall for:
Vehicles may be missing the third pawl required for seatback strength. A seatback with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism “may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.” The Ford reference number for this recall is 19C07.
Affected vehicles include 2018-20 Ford F-150 vehicles built at:
2019-20 Ford F-Series Super Duty vehicles built at:
Safety Recall for Potential Loss of Power Steering
Ford is issuing a safety recall for 2013-16 Ford Fusion, 2013-16 Lincoln MKZ, 2015-16 Ford Edge and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles in U.S. states and Canadian provinces with high-corrosion environments.
Vehicles that did not receive proper application of wax coating and are operated in high-corrosion environments associated with exposure to road salt may experience corrosion of the steering gear motor attachment bolts. This may result in the steering gear motor becoming loose or detaching from the gear housing, although the steering gear motor will not separate from the vehicle.
Detachment of the steering-gear motor from the gear housing would result in a loss of power-steering assist. The steering system would default to base manual steering mode, allowing the vehicle to be steered in a safe and controlled manner. The amount of assist supplied is inversely proportional to vehicle speed, with the highest levels of assist provided at lower vehicle speeds. Loss of power-steering assist would require higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may result in an increased risk of a crash.
This action affects 90,646 vehicles in the United States and federal territories, and 8,134 in Canada.
Affected vehicles include:
Recall of 2019 Ford Fiesta vehicles for front brake caliper-seal contamination
Ford is recalling 2019 Ford Fiesta vehicles for brake calipers that could develop a leak after being exposed to incorrectly labeled assembly fluid in production. A leaking brake caliper could eventually result in reduced braking function or drag, which could lead to the overheating of the brake pads, increasing the risk of a crash.
This action affects 2,624 vehicles in the United States and federal territories. Only 50 of these vehicles have been delivered to customers; the remainder are in dealer inventory and the issue will be remedied prior to customer delivery.
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.