Ford Motor Issues Two Safety Recalls, Expands a Previous One

Owners are advised to apply the parking brake whenever the F-Series is parked.

Ford Motor Company issued two safety recalls in North America yesterday and amended safety compliance recall 19C07 to expand the number of suspect vehicles. The first safety defect recall is for 2019 Ford F-Series Super Duty vehicles. The electronically locking rear-axle assembly may have a passenger-side axle shaft manufactured with steel that does not meet Ford’s specifications. It may fracture, resulting in a loss of driving power while in two-wheel drive, and the inability to hold the park function. If the parking brake is not applied, this could result in unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of crash or injury.

Ford is not aware of any reports of accident or injury related to this defect that affects 28,579 vehicles in the United States and federal territories, 4,316 in Canada and 73 in Mexico. The vehicles were built at Kentucky Truck Plant and Ohio Assembly Plant, May 21 – July 26, 2019.

Dealers will inspect the passenger-side rear axle shaft; shafts with a suspect batch code will be replaced. Owners are advised to apply the parking brake whenever the vehicle is parked until the service fix is completed. The Ford reference number for this recall is 19S31.

Ford also issued a safety defect recall for 2020 Ford Explorer vehicles with 2.3-liter and 3.3-liter gasoline engines. The wiring harness is not properly secured and may contact the air-conditioning pulley, resulting in a damaged wiring harness or damaged air-conditioning drive belt. Contact with the air-conditioning pulley may rub through the wiring harness insulation, creating the potential for contact with the un-fused B+ (battery) circuit, resulting in a short circuit and a fire.

Ford said it is not aware of any reports of accidents, injuries or fires on 10,655 vehicles in the United States. The majority of affected vehicles are in dealer inventory. The issue will be remedied prior to delivery to customers. Affected vehicles were built at Chicago Assembly Plant, May 28 – July 18, 2019.

Dealers will secure the wiring harness and repair any damage, if present. The Ford reference number for this recall is 19S32.

Ford is also issuing an “amendment” to safety compliance recall 19C07 announced Aug. 30, 2019, to include 2020 Ford Escape vehicles and expand the number of other affected vehicles. The amendment includes approximately 9,350 Escape vehicles in North America built April 3, 2019, to Sept. 21, 2019 at Louisville Assembly Plant.

“The majority of vehicles are in dealer inventory and this issue will be remedied prior to customer delivery,” Ford said.”