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.
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 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.
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.