Ford Motor Company is recalling all 2023 Transit vans equipped with the Special Vehicle Operations Accessory Service Kit #1 or #2 with a so-called High Specification Vehicle Interface Connector. “When the accessory kit is installed, the auxiliary wire harness made by Yazaki North America will disable the heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) including the defrost and defog systems.
The auxiliary wire harness supplier Yazaki manufactured the wire harness with blunt end wires installed in the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus communication pins of the auxiliary wire harness’ connector instead of the required twisted pair CAN loop, resulting in an interruption of the CAN communication path and rendering the HVAC system inoperative. As a result, the HVAC system, including defrost/defog, will not function. Controls for the HVAC in the SYNC screen will be grayed.
These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems, Ford said in the required NHTSA falling just made public. Ford said it is aware of 35 reports related to this safety defect received between 14 January 2023 and 11 February 2023.
Dealers will inspect the auxiliary wire harness and replace or repair, as necessary, free of charge as required by Federal regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 20 March 20, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 23C02. 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 about NHTSA 23V-122
Chronology
January 19, 2023 – Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) opened an investigation into reports of inoperative HVAC systems on certain 2023 model year Transit vehicles. The reports of inoperative HVAC systems had been received from body builders (“upfitters”) of the Transit vehicles.
The affected vehicles are produced by Ford and then modified or upfit by vehicle body builders. If ordered, Ford supplies a Special Service Kit that comes with several wire harnesses, including an auxiliary wire harness that can connect to the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus. This auxiliary wire harness provides additional inputs and outputs for upfitters to use. Initial investigations included a visit to an upfitter location to understand how the upfitter used the auxiliary wire harness.
The CCRG investigation found that some Transit vehicles built between November 2, 2022 and January 28, 2023, will have an inoperable HVAC system, including defrost/defog functionality, after the upfitter installs the auxiliary wire harness.
Subsequent CCRG investigation determined that the auxiliary wire harness was missing a twisted pair loop which resulted in an open communication loop, preventing the HVAC system from receiving any communications and rendering the HVAC system inoperative. If an upfitter does not use the auxiliary wire harness and uses the wire harness originally equipped on the vehicle, the HVAC system will work.
A variety of Transit vehicles, including chassis cab units and vans, received the auxiliary wire harness without the twisted pair loop. When the upfitter installs the auxiliary wire harness provided by Ford, the HVAC system will not operate. Without a functioning HVAC system, defrost/defog functionality is not available and the vehicle will not conform to FMVSS No. 103, Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems.
February 17, 2023 – Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action.
Ford Motor Recalls 2023 Model Year Transit Vans
Ford Motor Company is recalling all 2023 Transit vans equipped with the Special Vehicle Operations Accessory Service Kit #1 or #2 with a so-called High Specification Vehicle Interface Connector. “When the accessory kit is installed, the auxiliary wire harness made by Yazaki North America will disable the heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) including the defrost and defog systems.
The auxiliary wire harness supplier Yazaki manufactured the wire harness with blunt end wires installed in the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus communication pins of the auxiliary wire harness’ connector instead of the required twisted pair CAN loop, resulting in an interruption of the CAN communication path and rendering the HVAC system inoperative. As a result, the HVAC system, including defrost/defog, will not function. Controls for the HVAC in the SYNC screen will be grayed.
These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems, Ford said in the required NHTSA falling just made public. Ford said it is aware of 35 reports related to this safety defect received between 14 January 2023 and 11 February 2023.
Dealers will inspect the auxiliary wire harness and replace or repair, as necessary, free of charge as required by Federal regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 20 March 20, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 23C02. 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 about NHTSA 23V-122
Chronology
January 19, 2023 – Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) opened an investigation into reports of inoperative HVAC systems on certain 2023 model year Transit vehicles. The reports of inoperative HVAC systems had been received from body builders (“upfitters”) of the Transit vehicles.
The affected vehicles are produced by Ford and then modified or upfit by vehicle body builders. If ordered, Ford supplies a Special Service Kit that comes with several wire harnesses, including an auxiliary wire harness that can connect to the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus. This auxiliary wire harness provides additional inputs and outputs for upfitters to use. Initial investigations included a visit to an upfitter location to understand how the upfitter used the auxiliary wire harness.
The CCRG investigation found that some Transit vehicles built between November 2, 2022 and January 28, 2023, will have an inoperable HVAC system, including defrost/defog functionality, after the upfitter installs the auxiliary wire harness.
Subsequent CCRG investigation determined that the auxiliary wire harness was missing a twisted pair loop which resulted in an open communication loop, preventing the HVAC system from receiving any communications and rendering the HVAC system inoperative. If an upfitter does not use the auxiliary wire harness and uses the wire harness originally equipped on the vehicle, the HVAC system will work.
A variety of Transit vehicles, including chassis cab units and vans, received the auxiliary wire harness without the twisted pair loop. When the upfitter installs the auxiliary wire harness provided by Ford, the HVAC system will not operate. Without a functioning HVAC system, defrost/defog functionality is not available and the vehicle will not conform to FMVSS No. 103, Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems.
February 17, 2023 – Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action.