Why Did Ford Recall 2.9 Million Vehicles?
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On June 10, Ford Motor Company issued a large recall notice on over 2.9 million vehicles manufactured between 2013 and 2021. If you own one of the vehicles in question, it’s important to be aware of the safety hazard they’re being recalled for so you can have the problem fixed and drive your vehicle safely. What is a recall, which cars are being recalled, and what should you do if you drive one? Read on below to find out.
What is a recall?
A recall is a statement issued by either a car manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) if either body determines that something about a vehicle poses a safety risk. The recall includes details about which model of vehicle has the issue and how many were affected, a description of the defect that causes a safety issue, information about what led to the recall decision, an explanation of how they plan to fix the issue, and a recall schedule.
The recall schedule will detail a time frame in which owners of the affected vehicle can have the issue repaired at no charge. The NHTSA website lets you find out if there’s a recall on your vehicle and can provide some helpful information on how you can address the problem.
Which cars are being recalled?
The majority of the vehicles that Ford is recalling include all 1.7 million Ford Escapes from model years between 2013 to 2019. The recall also includes the 2013 through 2016 models of the Ford Fusion, the 2015 through 2018 Ford Edge, the 2013 through 2018 Ford C-Max, and the 2013 through 2021 Ford Transit.
Why are they being recalled?
The cars in this situation are being recalled because of an issue that lets them still move when the gear shift shows that they’re in park. The specific issue is that a bushing attaching the shift cable and transmission tends to degrade or come loose over time.
Ford became aware of this problem after reports of several crashes, six counts of property damage, and four injuries caused by the faulty gear shift. The company estimates that one percent of the recalled vehicles will have the problem.
What should you do if you have one of these vehicles?
If you have one of the vehicles that’s been recalled, the official recall notice will detail everything you need to do. Recall notices should be mailed to dealerships and owners of these vehicles, but you may want to take a look at the digital version of the notice just in case. The notice is expected to ship to owners between June 27th and July 25th.
To get your vehicle fixed you’ll need to take it to a licensed Ford dealer. They should be notified of the recall by now, and they are legally obligated to make the repair at no charge to you. If you have any issues and a dealership refuses to fix the car, you can notify the manufacturer or file a complaint with the NHTSA.