DETROIT – The safety of thousands of Ford SUV owners is under question as federal investigators uncover “significant safety concerns” with a recent recall repair. The recall, issued on March 8 for nearly 43,000 Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs from the 2022 and 2023 model years, was intended to fix potential gasoline leaks that could lead to engine fires.
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the affected SUVs have fuel injectors that can crack over time, allowing gas or vapor to leak near hot engine parts. This poses a serious risk to both drivers and passengers, as well as increases the chance of vehicle fires and fuel odors.
In a letter sent to Ford on April 25, the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the recalled remedy. The agency believes that the fix does not address the root cause of the issue and does not proactively call for the replacement of defective fuel injectors before they fail.
Ford’s current remedy for the leaks involves adding a drain tube to redirect gasoline away from hot surfaces and a software update to detect pressure drops in the fuel injection system. If a pressure drop is detected, the software will disable the high-pressure fuel pump, reduce engine power, and cut temperatures in the engine compartment. Additionally, owners will receive a “seek service” message on their dashboard.
However, the NHTSA is pushing for more information from Ford, including any testing that was done to ensure the remedy has truly resolved the issue, and whether further hardware repairs are necessary. The agency also wants to know about any other remedies that were considered and the cost-benefit analysis behind Ford’s chosen solution.
Safety advocates have raised concerns that Ford is opting for a cheaper fix that drains gasoline to the ground, rather than replacing the faulty fuel injectors, in order to save money. But Ford has assured the public that it is working closely with the NHTSA during this investigation.
The agency has also requested details from Ford about how the software detects fuel pressure drops, the amount of time that passes between cracking and detection, and the messages that will be sent to drivers in these situations. They also want to know about the effects of disabling the high-pressure fuel pump on other parts of the fuel system and how the SUVs will perform when the pump is disabled.
Questions have also been raised about the amount of fuel that leaks and whether it complies with federal environmental and safety standards. The NHTSA is also interested in Ford’s perspective on their legal, ethical, and environmental obligations to prevent or limit fuel leakage onto roadways during the lifespan of their vehicles.
Ford has until June 21 to provide the requested information, and depending on the results of the investigation, the NHTSA may demand further repairs to address the fuel leaks.
In response to the concerns, Ford has stated that it has received reports of five under-hood fires and 14 warranty replacements of fuel injectors, but no reports of crashes or injuries. They also maintain that the current recall repair is sufficient and that it will prevent future failures and protect customers.
The company has also announced that it will extend warranty coverage for cracked fuel injectors, so owners who experience the issue will receive replacements. These repairs are already available, and details of the extended warranty will be released in June, according to Ford.
This recall is an extension of a previous one in 2022 for the same issue. Ford has assured the public that the repair has been tested on vehicles involved in the previous recall, and they are not aware of any problems. They also clarified that they are not advising owners to only park their SUVs outdoor as there is no evidence of fires happening while the vehicles are parked and turned off.
The NHTSA has revealed that in the 2022 recall, which affected nearly 522,000 Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs, Ford implemented the same remedy as the current recall. As the investigation continues, the NHTSA will work closely with Ford to ensure the safety of their customers and that all necessary repairs are being made.
In the meantime, Ford urges customers to heed the recall and bring their vehicles in for the necessary repairs. With the extended warranty for cracked fuel injectors, Ford is also reassuring customers that they will address any issues that arise in a timely and efficient manner. Safety on the road is a top priority for Ford, and they are committed to ensuring the
