Ford Motor Company is recalling ~117,000 Ford F-150, E-Series, Escape and Lincoln MKC vehicles to replace improperly tempered seat, seat-back, seat-belt and/or seatbelt buckle attaching bolts. In short, fasteners that are the nuts and bolts of the business that Ford has been in for more than 100 years.
In keeping with Ford’s reticent public policy on safety matters, the supplier was not named, nor was the reason that prompted the recall cited.
In the potentially hazardous vehicles, if a seat, seatback or seatbelt anchor attaching bolt fractures, the “structural integrity of the seat or the seatbelt” performance may be compromised in a sudden stop or crash, increasing the risk of injury. Ford claims it is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with this issue. Dealers will replace affected bolts at no cost to the customer as required by U.S. Law under NHTSA regulations.
Defective Seat-belt Fastener Ford Vehicles
- 2014 Ford F-150 built at Dearborn Assembly Plant, May 9, 2014 to June 15, 2014 and at Kansas City Assembly Plant, May 10, 2014 to June 10, 2014
- 2014 Ford E-Series built at Ohio Assembly Plant, May 15, 2014 to June 24, 2014
- 2014-15 Ford Escape built at Louisville Assembly Plant, May 11, 2014 to June 18, 2014
- 2015 Lincoln MKC built at Louisville Assembly Plant, May 11, 2014 to June 18, 2014
The recall involves approximately 116,796 vehicles in North America, including 94,605 in the United States and federalized territories, 20,681 in Canada and 1,510 in Mexico. The Ford reference number for this recall is 17S17.
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.
