Ford Announces Multiple Recalls Affecting Various Models

Ford has issued two safety recalls, two safety compliance recalls, and has expanded an existing recall in North America.

The largest of the recalls affects approximately 202,274 2016 Ford F-150 and 2016 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with front power seats. According to the American automaker, the upper left-hand pivot bolt for the front power seat adjuster may loosen or fall out. If the pivot bolt is loose or falls out, the front seat cushion may experience additional movement in a crash, and not properly restrain occupants, increasing the risk of injury. The company is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue and approximately 177,264 of the affected units are in the U.S., 22,620 in Canada, and 2,390 in Mexico.

To resolve the issue, dealers will measure the torque of the power seat track upper pivot link bolt. If the bolt passes the torque inspection, dealers will remove and clean the bolt, apply a new threadlock, and reinstall the bolt to the specified torque. If the bolt fails the inspection however, the threadlock will be added and the bolt will be reinstalled as an interim repair until a final repair is available. The final repair will include replacing the lift link with new bushings and fasteners. All repairs will be done free of cost to the customer.

The next recall affects 2017 Ford motorhome and commercial stripped chassis incomplete vehicles, equipped with an antilock brake system. A total of 392 units are affected and they could have missing valve block ball plugs in brake hydraulic electronic control units. The hydraulic electronic control unit may leak brake fluid or ingest air during electronic brake distribution and/or antilock brake system activation. Sufficient loss of brake fluid may result in increased pedal travel and/or increased stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will inspect the hydraulic electronic control unit for missing valve block ball plugs and missing plugs will be replaced at no charge. Of the 392 units, 390 are in the U.S. and two are in Canada.

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The next recall is for 43 units of the 2018 Ford Transit Connect in Canada in order to replace their driver and passenger side air curtains. Ford says a tear in the fabric of the side air curtain may occur during deployment, causing a reduction in the duration of the side air current inflation. If the side air curtain does not inflate correctly, it may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury. No vehicles are currently in possession of customers, so the automaker is unaware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue. The automaker and its dealers will replace the driver and passenger side air curtains.

The fourth recall affects approximately 566 2018 Ford Expedition SUVs in North America. Those vehicles are being recalled for second-row seat track travel concerns, involving improperly installed assembly bolts that attach the seat back to the seat base. An incorrectly located latch may allow the second-row outboard seats to be positioned forward of the intended position, resulting in improper occupant positioning. In addition, those seats may have an improperly installed bolt, resulting in inadequate seat retention. Either issue could increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue and dealers will inspect the seats for proper seat adjustment travel and for proper installation of the bolt. If necessary, dealers will replace the seat frame assembly and/or the bolt will be removed and reinstalled properly at no cost to the customer.

Lastly, Ford is expanding a safety recall in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, adding approximately 3,396 2011-2012 Ford Explorer vehicles to replace their rear suspension toe links. A previous recall was announced in April 2017, which included the 2013-2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicles. The recall’s total affected vehicles now sit at 24,114 units.

Ford is aware of three accidents, one with injuries, associated with the issue, which consists of unique mud accumulation in the rear frame pocket where the rear suspension toe link attaches to the frame. That mud can impede articulation of the toe link, resulting in a toe link fracture, causing noise and unusual vehicle handling characteristics and increasing the risk of a crash. To fix the issue, dealers are replacing the left- and right-hand rear suspension toe links with a redesigned unit.

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