The Office of Defects Investigation at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened up a formal inquiry about what could be bad brake hoses on 1.7 million Ford and Lincoln vehicles. NHTSA has received 50 complaints alleging front brake hose failures on MY 2013-2018 Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ vehicles (RQ 22-004).
These vehicles were not part of the 11 August 2020, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) safety recall 20V-469 on Model Year (MY) 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles that addressed front brake hoses (jounce hoses) rupturing prematurely. The cause was due to consistent localized failures of the internal reinforcement braid due to cyclic fatigue during suspension and steering movement. The recall replaced both front brake jounce hoses with a new revised braid material and bled the brake system.
That August 2020 recall (AutoInformed: Ford Motor Recalls for Brakes, Corrosion and Fires, https://autoinformed.com/ford-motor-recalls-for-brakes-corrosion-and-fires/) was part of three Ford Motor North American recalls announced that day covering 2015-18 Ford Edge and 2016-18 Lincoln MKX 2020 Lincoln Corsair crossovers, and 2020 Ford F-150 pickups. All told more than ~560,000 vehicles were recalled then for dangerous safety defects.
The vehicles recalled then for brake defects “have front brake jounce hoses that could rupture, causing a progressive brake fluid leak. If the brake fluid reservoir is depleted enough, the brake fluid warning indicator light will illuminate. The driver may experience an increase in brake pedal travel, together with a reduction in the rate of deceleration, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the front brake jounce hoses with new hoses that have a revised braid material. The Ford reference number for this recall is 20S42. Ford said it is not aware of any reports of accident or injury related to this condition. This action affects 488,594 vehicles in the U.S. and federal territories, 62,876 in Canada and 7,140 in Mexico.” AutoInformed.com wrote.
Many of the newer complaints as of today allege that the brake hoses are “rupturing, leaking brake fluid and occurring with little to no warning. Leaked brake fluid can cause a soft brake pedal, increased pedal travel and/or extended braking distances.” ODI also said “it is aware of one alleged crash as a result of a failed brake hose, with no injuries. ODI is opening this RQ – recall query – to assess the scope adequacy of safety recall 20V-469.”
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.
NHTSA: Bad Brakes on 1.7M Fords, Lincolns?
The Office of Defects Investigation at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened up a formal inquiry about what could be bad brake hoses on 1.7 million Ford and Lincoln vehicles. NHTSA has received 50 complaints alleging front brake hose failures on MY 2013-2018 Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ vehicles (RQ 22-004).
These vehicles were not part of the 11 August 2020, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) safety recall 20V-469 on Model Year (MY) 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles that addressed front brake hoses (jounce hoses) rupturing prematurely. The cause was due to consistent localized failures of the internal reinforcement braid due to cyclic fatigue during suspension and steering movement. The recall replaced both front brake jounce hoses with a new revised braid material and bled the brake system.
That August 2020 recall (AutoInformed: Ford Motor Recalls for Brakes, Corrosion and Fires, https://autoinformed.com/ford-motor-recalls-for-brakes-corrosion-and-fires/) was part of three Ford Motor North American recalls announced that day covering 2015-18 Ford Edge and 2016-18 Lincoln MKX 2020 Lincoln Corsair crossovers, and 2020 Ford F-150 pickups. All told more than ~560,000 vehicles were recalled then for dangerous safety defects.
The vehicles recalled then for brake defects “have front brake jounce hoses that could rupture, causing a progressive brake fluid leak. If the brake fluid reservoir is depleted enough, the brake fluid warning indicator light will illuminate. The driver may experience an increase in brake pedal travel, together with a reduction in the rate of deceleration, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the front brake jounce hoses with new hoses that have a revised braid material. The Ford reference number for this recall is 20S42. Ford said it is not aware of any reports of accident or injury related to this condition. This action affects 488,594 vehicles in the U.S. and federal territories, 62,876 in Canada and 7,140 in Mexico.” AutoInformed.com wrote.
Many of the newer complaints as of today allege that the brake hoses are “rupturing, leaking brake fluid and occurring with little to no warning. Leaked brake fluid can cause a soft brake pedal, increased pedal travel and/or extended braking distances.” ODI also said “it is aware of one alleged crash as a result of a failed brake hose, with no injuries. ODI is opening this RQ – recall query – to assess the scope adequacy of safety recall 20V-469.”
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.