Ford Motor Company today is issuing three new safety recalls in North America covering Shelby Mustangs, Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner SUVs, and 2017 Super Duty Chassis Cab pickup trucks.
The Ford Motor safety defects arise from what appears to be relatively simple design, mechanical and assembly problems.
On 2015-17 Ford Shelby GT350/R Mustang vehicles the engine oil cooler tube assembly is defective. This includes 8,000 Mustang pony cars where the oil cooler tube assemblies may have “insufficient crimps on the hose” that could lead to a hose separation and an oil leak.
Sudden loss of engine oil, of course, may result in engine failure, and – in the presence of an ignition source under the hood, say a hot manifold – could lead to a fire. Ford said it is not aware of any Shelby Mustang fires, accidents or injuries associated with this safety defect. Dealers will replace the engine oil cooler tube assembly at no cost to the customer as is required by U.S. law. Ford did not name the supplier.
On 411,663 2010-12 Ford Escape and 2010-11 Mercury Mariner vehicles equipped with 3.0-liter engines with flex-fuel engines there are potential fuel leaks. Ford wants to replace the fuel delivery module flange assembly. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module fuel supply port could crack, causing a possible fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire. Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with this safety defect. Once again the supplier was unnamed. Dealers will replace the fuel delivery module flange assembly at no cost to the customer, as the law requires.
On 2017 Ford Super Duty 6.7-liter diesel Chassis Cab vehicles, Ford wants to replace the adhesive-mounted protective shield currently installed on the fuel conditioning module with a bolt-on metallic shield. In affected vehicles, “inadequate adhesion” – translation the glue fails – of the protective shield on the fuel conditioning module “may allow it to be dislodged by road debris or water spray.” If the protective shield is dislodged, road debris or water spray may force open the drain valve on the module. This can lead to air entering the fuel system or a substantial fuel leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire. In addition, under “certain conditions,” significant liquid fuel on the road surface may cause a slip hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with this safety defect. Dealers will replace the fuel conditioning module bottom cover with a metallic protective shield at no cost to the customer as required by U.S. law.