Ford Motor is recalling ~115,000 2021-2022 Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs because Continental Automotive Mexicana may have incorrectly manufactured the rear brake linings. The safety defect means that these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, “Light Vehicle Brake Systems” because of increased stopping distances. There is no warning system to alert the drive of the defect.
NHTSA discovered the problem. The Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance contacted Ford at the beginning of October 2021, regarding the results of its FMVSS 135 compliance audit on the 2021 model year Bronco Sport vehicle equipped with a brake vacuum booster. The stopping distance test results for “Brake Power Assist Unit Inoperative” were 191.9 meters which exceeds the federal regulation of 168 meters.
The brake system is designed for a specified brake lining friction coefficient to achieve required stopping distances. A lower than specified brake lining friction coefficient could increase the stopping distances beyond FMVSS 135 requirements for “Brake Power Assist Unit Inoperative.” If one of the affected vehicles experiences a booster malfunction, the customer may experience increased brake pedal forces and extended stopping distances beyond FMVSS 135 requirements, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix is currently under development, according to the required NHTSA filing, which could involve multiple problems such as Ford either has a supplier problem or is looking for the least expensive way to repair the safety defect or isn’t sure these are the only vehicles affected. The tentative remedy, said Ford, will see front and/or rear brake linings with “a higher coefficient of friction than design intent and will compensate for the brake lining friction variation and enable the vehicle to meet all FMVSS 135 stopping distance requirements.” This potentially could cause premature wear on rotor surfaces.
Affect vehicles thus far are: 2021-2022 model year Bronco Sport vehicles with build dates from January 27, 2021 through November 11, 2021 and 2021-2022 model year Escape vehicles with build dates from December 14, 2020 through October 26, 2021.
Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 10, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 21C31. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, publisher (kzhw@aol.com), 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.
Zino is at home on test tracks, knows his way around U.S. Congressional hearing rooms, auto company headquarters, plant floors, as well as industry research and development labs where the real mobility work is done. He can quote from court decisions, refer to instrumented road tests, analyze financial results, and profile executive personalities and corporate cultures.
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 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.
Bad Brakes – Ford Recalls Bronco Sport, Escape SUVs
Ford Motor is recalling ~115,000 2021-2022 Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs because Continental Automotive Mexicana may have incorrectly manufactured the rear brake linings. The safety defect means that these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, “Light Vehicle Brake Systems” because of increased stopping distances. There is no warning system to alert the drive of the defect.
NHTSA discovered the problem. The Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance contacted Ford at the beginning of October 2021, regarding the results of its FMVSS 135 compliance audit on the 2021 model year Bronco Sport vehicle equipped with a brake vacuum booster. The stopping distance test results for “Brake Power Assist Unit Inoperative” were 191.9 meters which exceeds the federal regulation of 168 meters.
The brake system is designed for a specified brake lining friction coefficient to achieve required stopping distances. A lower than specified brake lining friction coefficient could increase the stopping distances beyond FMVSS 135 requirements for “Brake Power Assist Unit Inoperative.” If one of the affected vehicles experiences a booster malfunction, the customer may experience increased brake pedal forces and extended stopping distances beyond FMVSS 135 requirements, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix is currently under development, according to the required NHTSA filing, which could involve multiple problems such as Ford either has a supplier problem or is looking for the least expensive way to repair the safety defect or isn’t sure these are the only vehicles affected. The tentative remedy, said Ford, will see front and/or rear brake linings with “a higher coefficient of friction than design intent and will compensate for the brake lining friction variation and enable the vehicle to meet all FMVSS 135 stopping distance requirements.” This potentially could cause premature wear on rotor surfaces.
Affect vehicles thus far are: 2021-2022 model year Bronco Sport vehicles with build dates from January 27, 2021 through November 11, 2021 and 2021-2022 model year Escape vehicles with build dates from December 14, 2020 through October 26, 2021.
Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 10, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 21C31. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, publisher (kzhw@aol.com), 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. Zino is at home on test tracks, knows his way around U.S. Congressional hearing rooms, auto company headquarters, plant floors, as well as industry research and development labs where the real mobility work is done. He can quote from court decisions, refer to instrumented road tests, analyze financial results, and profile executive personalities and corporate cultures. 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 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.