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OVER half a million Ford cars are being investigated after drivers noticed dangerous battery and seatbelt issues crop up in several models.
The US government has probed the American automaker just days after officials fined it $165 million for a recall.
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The first of the two latest investigations listed about 457,000 Ford Bronco Sport SUVs and Maverick small pickups.
This came after Ford already recalled certain 2021 through 2024 Bronco Sports and 2022 through 2023 Mavericks in April over a power issue.
Drivers reported their cars would suddenly turn off while they were driving, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration blamed degraded 12-volt batteries.
However, five drivers have noticed the issues cropping back up since then, so officials are investigating whether the recall was effective.
In the second investigation, officials said they are looking at about 113,000 Ford Expeditions from 2019 through 2020.
About 78,000 of those models were recalled in February after drivers said their seatbelts tightened up and trapped them even when they weren’t abruptly stopping.
Three drivers who weren’t part of the first recall have reported experiencing the issue.
This led officials to evaluate whether the call should be expanded to more drivers.
Ford said it is cooperating with both investigations.
The fresh drama came after Ford was ordered on Thursday to pay out a massive fee for failing to give the NHTSA accurate recall information.
It was the largest civil penalty in the agency’s history, followed only by Takata’s fee it paid for air bag inflators.
According to the agency, Ford didn’t recall cars with faulty rearview cameras quickly enough.
Plus, it didn’t provide the NHTSA with accurate information when it was asked about the recall, officials said.
FORD FAREWELLS
The recall drama came after Ford made the shocking announcement it would be discontinuing a new model.
The F-150 Lightning pickup truck, which is an EV, is being paused in what CEO Jim Farley said was a step backward.
The auto brand has desperately been trying to stay afloat as it sinks millions of dollars into EV production.
The company still hasn’t made a profit, but Farley has stressed that it’s too late to turn back.
How can I check if my car is part of a recall?
If you own a car that’s been recently recalled, you can easily check your VIN.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) makes it incredibly quick and easy for drivers to check and see if their vehicle is part of a recent (or past) recall.
The VIN checking tool also allows drivers to see whether or not the repair was completed within the last 15 years, making it an incredible tool for buyers of used cars.
All recalls initiated by the NHTSA mean free repairs for drivers, even if it’s an engine or a transmission replacement. If your VIN shows an active recall that has not been repaired, it’s important to make an appointment at your nearest dealership.
Here’s how to make an appointment for a recall:
- Look up your VIN using the NHTSA tool.
- Find out the recall number/ID from the manufacturer.
- Call your nearest dealership’s service center with the ID number handy, and mention you’d like to schedule an appointment to repair the recall. The repair can only be done at a dealership, as they’re authorized by the manufacturer to conduct the repair free of cost using genuine parts.
- Try to make the appointment as soon as possible.
- Once the repair is completed, the dealership will update the information associated with the VIN to reflect it’s been completed.
Source: NHTSA
Earlier this year, John Lawler, Ford’s vice chair and chief financial officer, had to admit to shareholders that net income had nosedived 25% in the third quarter.
“We’re seeing a tremendous amount of competition” in the SUV segment, he said.
Lawler blamed Ford’s $1 billion investment in EVs for the income dip.
