The corporate stated the recall is an extension of a 2022 recall for a similar drawback.
DETROIT — Ford is recalling practically 43,000 small SUVs as a result of gasoline can leak from the gasoline injectors onto scorching engine surfaces, rising the chance of fires. However the recall treatment doesn’t embody repairing the gasoline leaks.
The recall covers sure Bronco Sport SUVs from the 2022 and 2023 mannequin years, in addition to Escape SUVs from 2022. All have 1.5-liter engines.
Ford says in paperwork filed with U.S. security regulators that gasoline injectors can crack, and gasoline or vapor can accumulate close to ignition sources, presumably touching off fires.
Sellers will set up a tube to let gasoline circulate away from scorching surfaces to the bottom under the car. They’ll additionally replace engine management software program to detect a stress drop within the gasoline injection system. If that occurs, the software program will disable the excessive stress gasoline pump, cut back engine energy and minimize temperatures within the engine compartment, in accordance with paperwork posted Wednesday on the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration web site.
House owners have been to be notified by letter beginning April 1.
The corporate says in paperwork it has experiences of 5 under-hood fires and 14 guarantee replacements of gasoline injectors, however no experiences of crashes or accidents.
In an e-mail, Ford stated it isn’t changing gasoline injectors as a result of the issue occurs solely in about 1% of the SUVs. The brand new software program additionally will set off a dashboard warning mild and permit prospects to drive to a secure location, cease the car and prepare for service, the corporate stated.
The corporate additionally stated it’s going to lengthen guarantee protection for cracked gasoline injectors, so homeowners who expertise the issue will get replacements. Ford stated repairs are already accessible, and particulars of the prolonged guarantee will likely be accessible in June.
The corporate stated the recall is an extension of a 2022 recall for a similar drawback. The restore has already been examined on automobiles concerned within the earlier recall, and Ford stated it is not conscious of any issues.
Ford additionally stated it is not recommending that the SUVs be parked solely outdoor as a result of there is no proof that fires occur when automobiles are parked and the engines are off.
Michael Brooks, govt director of the nonprofit Heart for Auto Security, referred to as Ford’s treatment for the gasoline leaks a “Band-aid sort recall” and stated the corporate is making an attempt to keep away from the price of repairing the gasoline injectors.
A 1% failure price, he stated, is excessive, and even with the repairs, drivers nonetheless may very well be compelled to exit a freeway at a low pace, inserting them liable to a crash.
NHTSA, he stated, ought to do extra to ensure recollects repair the foundation causes of car issues moderately than making less-costly repairs.
Prior to now, NHTSA has stated it doesn’t have authorized authority to pre-approve recall fixes. However in an announcement Wednesday, the company stated it’s going to “intently monitor their efficiency utilizing subject information.” The company stated homeowners who’ve questions ought to contact their dealership or Ford.
Brooks stated Congress ought to change the regulation so the company can “require one thing greater than the rubber stamp that NHTSA is at the moment deploying” on recollects.
The company, he stated, has been extra aggressive of late in investigating recall fixes. “That may be a post-remedy inquiry that will not make the fixes higher, and additional stretches out the method and leaves customers in limbo,” he stated.
