Ford Motor Company has expanded a recall involving its Bronco and Escape vehicles due to risks that cracked fuel injectors could lead to engine compartment fires. This recall now affects nearly 43,000 vehicles, specifically the 2022 Escape and both the 2022 and 2023 Bronco Sport editions equipped with 1.5L engines, according to information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The situation has garnered additional attention as the U.S. government's auto safety agency, NHTSA, has launched an investigation to assess whether Ford's proposed fix for the gasoline leaks is sufficient. The federal probe, announced just two days after the recall was made public, aims to "evaluate the adequacy and safety consequences of the remedy" provided by Ford. This rapid response by the NHTSA highlights the urgency and potential severity of the safety issues involved.
Initially, Ford's approach to addressing the hazard involved installing a drain tube to help channel gasoline away from hot surfaces in the engine area, coupled with a software update designed to detect a drop in fuel pressure. According to Ford, this software would deactivate the high-pressure fuel pump and reduce engine power if a leak were detected, thereby lowering the risk of a fire.
However, NHTSA has expressed concerns about this solution, noting that the recall remedy allows for fuel to be drained from a cylinder head hole to the ground, which could still pose a risk of fire. Importantly, the remedy does not involve replacing the cracked fuel injectors, which is a critical point of contention highlighted by the agency.
Ford has reported five instances of under-hood fires and 14 warranty replacements of fuel injectors linked to this issue. Despite these occurrences, there have been no reports of crashes or injuries related to the defect. The company has also stated that it plans to extend warranty coverage for the cracked fuel injectors, ensuring that owners experiencing this issue will receive replacements.
In defense of their current recall strategy, Ford asserts that the corrective actions undertaken are robust enough to prevent failures from occurring and thus protect consumers. The company emphasized that the new software is intended to alert drivers via a dashboard warning light, enabling them to safely stop and arrange for vehicle service.
Adding to the complexity, Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, criticized Ford's recall approach as a "Band-Aid type recall," suggesting that the automotive giant might be trying to avoid the higher costs associated with more comprehensive repair solutions, like replacing the fuel injectors.
Owners of the affected models can check their vehicle's status on the NHTSA website and are encouraged to visit a Ford dealership for the necessary repairs, which are provided at no cost. Ford remains confident that its recall measures, previously tested on vehicles in a similar recall in 2022, will effectively mitigate the risk, although they are not advising owners to restrict parking the vehicles outdoors, asserting there's no evidence of fires occurring when the vehicles are parked and the engines are off.
