Ford finds itself under the microscope of federal auto safety regulators over concerns that the company’s proposed recall remedy may not adequately address a potentially serious issue affecting certain SUV models.
Last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it was investigating the sufficiency of Ford’s planned recall fix for 2022-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022 Escape SUVs equipped with 1.5L engines.
At the crux of the issue are fuel injectors that can potentially crack and leak fuel, creating a fire risk under the hood.
Fixing the Software Instead of the Faulty Fuel Injectors
Rather than replacing the faulty fuel injectors, Ford’s proposed remedy involves updating the engine control software and installing a drain. However, NHTSA has expressed “significant safety concerns” that this fix fails to tackle the root cause of the problem and is too reactive rather than proactive.
In a letter to Ford made public this week, the agency criticized the automaker’s remedy saying it “does not address the root cause of the issue and does not proactively call for the replacement of defective fuel injectors prior to their failure.” NHTSA has given Ford until June 21st to provide extensive details justifying its chosen approach.
Ford is aware of at least five under-hood fire incidents among the affected vehicles so far, though no accidents or injuries have been reported. The company did note over 50 fire allegations and four injuries across earlier model years included in a prior recall using the same flawed remedy.
For consumers potentially impacted, Ford’s proposed fix seems like an unsettling band-aid rather than a comprehensive solution to the underlying fuel injector defect. Having to wait for components to crack and leak before any reactive measures kick in raises the risk of dangerous under-hood fires occurring.
From NHTSA’s perspective, Ford may be trying to sidestep the costlier but more robust fix of replacing all the potentially faulty injectors proactively before they can leak. The regulator clearly wants to see more data and engineering justification behind the automaker’s compliance plan.
Recalls are already a costly hassle for automakers. But cutting corners with insufficient remedies can prove even more expensive in the long run if safety issues persist and vehicles need to be addressed again. Ford will need to make a compelling case to NHTSA that its stop-gap fix properly prioritizes safety over expense.
