Ford Recalls 180,000 Vehicles
Ford Motor Co. said Monday it was recalling more than 180,000 sport utility vehicles and vans in two separate recalls to fix interior door handles and faulty fuel hoses.
The larger of the two recalls involves nearly 124,000 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs from the 2007-2008 model years. The Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker said the spring system in the inside door handles could break.
The problem could prevent the door handles from returning to a closed position, but the latches work properly, said Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood. However, in a side crash, there could be a risk of the door latch opening because of the problems, he said.
Sherwood said there were no reports of injuries or accidents tied to the recall.
Dealers will replace the interior handle spring on all side doors, he said. The recall involves 2007-2008 Expedition and Navigator vehicles built from March 3, 2006 through Aug. 9, 2007, Sherwood said.
The second recall involves more than 57,000 2006-2007 E-150, E-250 and E-350 vans, and 2007 Expedition and Navigator SUVs with 5.4 liter engines.
The automaker said the engine’s fuel rail crossover hose, which connects the fuel rails, could crack and leak fuel, potentially leading to a fire.
Sherwood said there have been no reports of fires, injuries or crashes. Dealers will replace the fuel rail assembly.
The recalls are expected to begin later this month for the handle spring and in March for the fuel hose. For more information, owners may contact Ford at (800) 392-3673.
Volvo To Recall 1,502 S40 Sedans
Swedish automaker Volvo will recall1,502 S40 sedans imported into China because of an electronic component rust problem, according to China’s top quality watchdog.
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said that an electronic module that controlled gas flow in the fuel pump could be corroded when exposed to damp. In worst case it could cause engine stalling.
The sedans to be recalled were produced between Sep. 16, 2004 and Aug. 22, 2005. Those produced afterwards did not have the problem, AQSIQ said.
The company would replace the electronic part for free and adjust its position to eliminate potential danger.
Ford Fires Strike in Minnesota, California
The firestorm of Ford trucks erupting into flames has struck in two more states, devastating Ford truck owners in Minnesota and California.
The Ford inferno hit a homeowner in Chisago City, Minnesota last month when her 2000 Ford Expedition “started on fire parked in our attached garage. We have now lost everything we owned,” wrote the Ford Expedition owner. “The home we built not even 2 years ago burned to the ground,” she said.
Neighbors of the burned-out Chisago City homeowners are helping their friends. “Rob and Gina’s house burned,” wrote a friend. “Fortunately, they got out of the house with their 2 daughters.”
“The fire is being investigated, but it started in Gina’s truck. Rob opened up the mudroom door and the entire car was engulfed in flames,” he said. “Everything, including both their cars were torched.”
“This will be a hard time for the children and for Rob and Gina. I am hoping we can get together and help their kids,” the neighbor wrote to friends.
California fire
While the Minnesota fire is still under investigation, a second Ford truck went up in flames in Westminster, California on January 22. This home owner is fortunate. He lost only his Ford truck and not his house as well.
The California Ford owner had parked his truck in the driveway following a brief 20-minute drive.
“Approximately one hour later, about 3:30 in the afternoon, the engine compartment was on fire and became engulfed within minutes,” he said.
“A neighbor’s daughter saw the fire and her dad and a friend came to our house and helped put out the fire with a garden hose before it could catch fire to the front of our house,” according to the ConsumerAffairs.com reader.
The fire department told the Ford truck owner that “the origin of the fire was on the driver’s side of the vehicle near and around the master cylinder.”
That would place the origin of the truck fire in the area of the cruise control system which the Ford Motor Co. is struggling to recall.
Ford admits a parts shortage is preventing the automaker from repairing all of the recalled Ford cars and trucks recalled for a faulty cruise control system until sometime later in 2008. The automaker has no specific time table for completion of the recall.
As a short-term solution, Ford offers to disconnect the cruise control system in recalled vehicles until parts are available to complete the repair.
1.8 million at risk
More than 1.8 million Ford cars and trucks remain at risk 5 months after the automaker recalled an additional 3.6 million vehicles because of the fire hazard in the cruise control system.
A Ford spokesman insists the automaker is doing all it can to complete the fire hazard recall.
“This was a large recall, and we’re working with the supplier to meet the volume challenge as soon aspossible,” said Ford’s Dan Jarvis.
A Mississippi consumer has had it with Ford because of the confusion surrounding the recall.
“My mother’s 1988 Grand Marquis caught fire and was damaged and repaired with recall notice coming month later,” he said. “She now drives my 1997 Lincoln Town Car and there was a safety recall in July with parts due in November. Now we are told February,” he said.
Ford would not offer an explanation for the recall delay to their Sumrall, Mississippi customer so he got rid of the Lincoln and bought his mother a Lexus.
The recall delay adds to an already troubling situation for many Ford consumers faced with the cruise control recall. The consequences are sometimes devastating.
Faced with continuing delays, some Ford customers are reluctant to go along with the automaker’s interim solution to deactivate the cruise control system.
Some Ford dealers now require customers who decline to disconnect the cruise control system to sign a waiver of liability.
With just more than half of the fire-prone Fords repaired, the automaker insists the company is responding adequately in an effort to notify Ford customers to return their vehicles to a Ford dealership for repair of the fire hazard.
“We have sent multiple mailings to customers, based on current vehicle registrations, asking them to bring in vehicles. I don’t have an exact figure, but about half of the total have done so to date. We have one of the highest return rates in the industry, based on update registration info, and sending multiple mailings,” Ford spokesman Jarvis said in an email response to ConsumerAffairs.Com.
Ford, however, continues to deny any responsibility for fires caused by its trucks. It tells burned-out customers to talk to their insurance agents.
Ford Plans Another Recall To Fix Fire Hazard
Since 1999 the Ford Motor Company has recalled 225,000 vehicles due to a faulty cruise control system that are known to start fires.
Consumeraffairs.com is reporting a new list of vehicles that Ford is recalling.
Gasoline powered 1992-2003 Econoline, 1992 to 1998 Crown Victoria’s and Grand Marquis.
The 1993 Bronco and F Series Pickup, 1995 to 1997 F Series Pickup.
1993 to 1995 Taurus SHO and the 1992 to 1995 Town Car.
It’s expected close to 2 million of these faulty vehicles are still on the road.
Volvo Recalls 30 Cars In Romania
The Romanian importer of Swedish Volvo cars, recalled in service 30 Volvo S40 and V50 models to replace some electronic modules as part of a global recall project. Company representatives said that the operation started a couple of days ago and a quarter of the requested cars were in service by now already.
The importer underlined that the operation is a preventive one and the modules will be changed even if they have a problem or not.
The recall operation is part of a global recall project announced by Volvo officials that includes some 82,000 cars produced in 2004 and 2006, models S40 and V50. Among mentioned markets that host a significant number of Volvo cars are: USA, Sweden, Germany, Japan, Canada, Russia, France.
The recall procedure is quite frequent among car producers and is considered a living proof that producers think about the safety of the drivers. Thus, the procedure will improve the models even if they are broken or not.
