NEWS:   Ford to recall 1.1M pickup trucks for gas tank problem

YAHOO NEWS -- August 1,  2011 – Ford is recalling more than a million pickup trucks because their gas tanks can fall off and cause fires.

The recall, announced Monday, covers 1.1 million F-150, F-250 and Lincoln Blackwood pickups. The models involved were sold in cold-weather states where road salt can cause straps metal straps holding up the tanks to rust. If the straps break, the tanks can hit the ground, rupture and catch fire.

Regulators began investigating the problem back in September. The defect has been blamed for eight fires, three of which spread to the rest of the truck. One person was injured, suffering first- and second-degree burns, Ford Motor Co. spokesman Wes Sherwood said.

The recall adds to the list of problems with the F-Series pickup, traditionally America's best-selling vehicle. The pickups have been involved in three recalls going back to 2008, involving millions of vehicles. Regulators have become more aggressive since being criticized last year for a slow response to Toyota's sudden acceleration problems.

The latest Ford pickup recall involves certain 1997 through 2004 Ford F-150 models, as well as some 1997 through 1999 model year F-250 pickups. Also affected are Lincoln Blackwood pickups from the 2002 and 2003 model years.

Ford sold more than 264,000 of the F-Series trucks during the first six months of this year.

The company would not say how much money the recall would cost. The nation's largest single recall involved 7.9 million Ford vehicles in 1996 to replace an ignition switch.

Earlier in the year, F-Series pickups were the subject of sniping between the government and Ford because of air bags that could deploy at the wrong time. Ford announced in February that it would fix 150,000 F-150s for that problem, but under pressure from regulators, the company expanded the recall to 1.2 million trucks in April. In that case, there were 98 reported injuries because of the problem.

Other recent F-Series recalls include:

— December 2010: About 15,000 of the trucks and some Ford crossover vehicles were recalled for problems with electrical systems that could short and cause fires.

— May 2008: More than 655,000 F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT pickup trucks were recalled to fix a defective hose that could affect the vehicles' braking power.

Ford also recalled more than 10.4 million vehicles in several increments from 1999 to 2007 because a faulty cruise-control switch could cause fires. The recalls covered more than a dozen vehicles built from 1992 to 2004, including some F-Series models.

To fix the latest problem, Ford will notify owners in September to bring their trucks to dealers. Mechanics will replace the straps with new ones coated to resist corrosion. Ford said that parts to fix the problem won't be widely available until then.

MORE RECALL INFO:

• Ford F-150
• Ford F-250
• Lincoln Blackwood

NEWS:   Ford F-150 recall greatly expanded: safety regulators

YAHOO NEWS -- April 14,  2011 – Ford Motor Co and U.S. safety regulators have agreed to a greatly expanded recall of the best-selling vehicle in North America, the Ford F-150 pickup truck, the regulators said on Thursday.

The expanded recall is for a possible short-circuit that could cause airbags to deploy unexpectedly, and involves nearly 1.2 million F-150 pickup trucks and 16,000 Lincoln Mark LT vehicles, said the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This is in addition to a previous recall of 144,000 Ford F-150 trucks, bringing the total for this issue to 1.33 million vehicles, NHTSA said.

F-150 is the primary model of the F-series pickup trucks, the best-selling vehicles in North America for the past 34 years. Pickup trucks and SUVs generally create more profit for automakers than do smaller cars.

Ford said it knows of no crashes or injuries caused by the issue. It will begin notifying vehicle owners in May to bring the pickup trucks or Lincolns into dealers for repair at no cost. Repairs will take less than half a day, Ford said.

But owners are asked to bring in their vehicles right away if their airbag warning light is illuminated, Ford said. If the light is ignored, in some circumstances, the driver's side front airbag could deploy unexpectedly.

Ford said the airbag warning typically is illuminated for "an extended period" before the driver's side front airbag surprises a driver by deploying. Drivers should have time to safely take the vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealer if they do so when the warning signal is first lit, Ford said.

Ford said its field data indicates that drivers have maintained control of their vehicles if the front side airbag deploys.

Overall, the recall affects 1.32 million trucks from the model years 2004 to 2006.

A mistake in the assembly of the vehicles could cause an airbag wire in the steering wheel to short-circuit, Ford and NHTSA said.

The expansion comes after talks between the automaker and safety regulators in Washington.

"We are pleased that Ford shares our commitment to safety and is taking action to protect consumers by expanding its safety recall," said NHTSA Administrator ...in a statement.

In February, Ford said in a response to safety regulators, "the condition does not present an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety" but agreed to the recall of 144,000 F-150s.

On Thursday, Ford said it held to its previous statement that the issue is not an "unreasonable risk," but agreed to the expanded recall "to reassure customers of Ford's commitment to safety and to eliminate any possible customer confusion."

Ford cooperated during the study of the airbag issue throughout the process, NHTSA said

MORE RECALL INFO:

• Ford F-150
• Lincoln Mark LT

NEWS:   Ford recalls 8,022 vehicles - MY 2011 - electrical system - vehicle fire

YAHOO NEWS -- March 2,  2011 – In a separate notice, Ford said it would recall more than 8,022 vehicles spanning seven models for the model year 2011 because their electrical system may short and prompt a vehicle fire.

The models affected by this recall include the Ford Edge crossover, the Lincoln MKX crossover and the F-series line of pick-up trucks: the F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550.

MORE RECALL INFO:

• Ford Edge
• Lincoln MKX
• Ford F-150
• Ford F-250 - F-350, F-450, F-550

DECEMBER 2010 - Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Edge and Lincoln MKX Vehicles. During a six-day production period, the supplier of the body control module manufactured modules that may have the potential for an internal short. If an electrical short develops, an overheating condition may occur which can result in an unattended vehicle fire. Dealer will replace the body control module if necessary free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before January 10, 2011. 10V-659

NEWS:   Ford recalls 15,000 trucks and crossovers

YAHOO NEWS -- December 31,  2010 –  Ford is recalling nearly 15,000 trucks and crossovers due to problems with electrical systems that can short and create a fire.

The Detroit automaker said Thursday that the recall includes some 2011 model year F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles.

A Ford supplier of a control module produced the faulty product over a six-day period

Owners may call Ford at 1-866-436-7332 to see if their vehicle is included in the recall.

MORE RECALL INFO: 

• Ford Edge
• Lincoln MKX
• Ford F-150
• Ford F-250 - F-350, F-450, F-550

JUNE 2009 -- Ford is recalling 1,357 MY 2009 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles for failing to comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." The brake stop lamp switch may be improperly adjusted. This may result in a delay in brake stoplamp illumination when the brake pedal is depressed. In situations of very mild brake application, the brake stoplamps may not illuminate. Delay or loss of brake stoplamp function may increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will adjust the brake stoplamp switch free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before July 6, 2009.  09V-232

MAY 2008 -- Ford is recalling 605,684 MY 2005-2006 F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT vehicles equipped with 5.4L 3-Valve engines. The brake booster vacuum supply hose attached to the intake manifold fitting may swell over time and lose retention force. This condition could allow the hose to become detached from the fitting during an intake manifold backfire. Should the hose detach from the intake manifold, several brake applications with power assist will be available before the vacuum reserve is depleted. Once the brake booster vacuum reserve is depleted, the driver will have foundation brake function, but with increased brake pedal effort. Reduced vehicle braking could lead to a crash. Dealers will replace a rubber hose on the brake booster vacuum supply tube assembly. The recall is expected to begin on or about July 7, 2008. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. This recall was the subject of a Preliminary Evaluation, PE08-001, conducted by the Office of Defects Investigation. 08V208

JULY 2008 -- Ford is recalling 142 MY 2008 Edge and Lincoln MKK all wheel drive vehicles. The fuel tank weld fixture may have been exposed to a contaminant during production which could cause a dimple in the bottom of the fuel tank at a spot weld. This dimple could result in fuel leakage or a fuel drip from the tank. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the fuel tank. The recall is expected to begin during August 2008.  08V301

APRIL 2008 -- Ford is recalling 158 MY 2008 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and the limo builders package. These vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems." The tire pressure was increased from 35 psi to 40 psi without a commensurate update to the TPMS calibrations. The TPMS indicator light will not illuminate when a tire pressure is 25 percent below the 40 psi value stated on the tire placard label occurs. Dealers will reconfigure the TPMS thresholds to the appropriate pressures. The recall began on April 24, 2008.  08V-166

FEBRUARY 2008 -- Ford is recalling 57,199 MY 2006-2007 E-150, E-250, E-350, and MY 2007 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 5.4L engines. The fuel rail cross-over hose may contain weak areas. As a result, the hose may crack, which could cause a fuel odor and/or fuel leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire. Dealers will replace the fuel rail assembly. The recall is expected to begin during March 2008.  08V057

FEBRUARY 2008 -- Ford is recalling 123,632 MY 2007-2008 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The door handle housing embossment retaining the bottom of the interior door handle spring on all side doors may fracture during normal customer usage. This can result in insufficient spring force to return the handle to the fully closed position. The handle may be loose causing a rattle or noise and the handle may not return to the fully closed position. This condition may also provide a delayed resistance when actuating the handle prior to opening the door. In the event of a side impact crash, the interior door handle may cause the door latch to open increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant. Dealers will replace the interior handle spring on all side doors. The recall is expected to begin during March 2008.  08V058

NEWS:   Ford recalls over 650,000 pickups for brake hose

Defective hose could affect braking power on F-150 and Lincoln Mark TL pickup trucks.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- May 14, 2008 -- Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 655,000 Ford F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT pickup trucks to fix a hose that could affect the vehicles' braking power.

The automaker is issuing the recall of 2005-2006 versions of the trucks with 5.4 liter 3-valve engines. This is according to a posting Wednesday on the Web site of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Ford spokesman ....says more than 600,000 of the trucks are in the United States and about 50,000 are in Canada. About 1,500 are in other countries around the world.

Ford says there have been 11 minor accidents and no injuries tied to the issue.

Dealers will replace the hose at no charge to consumers. Owners are expected to be notified in late June, and the recall is expected to begin in July.

MORE RECALL INFORMATION:    Ford F-150      Lincoln Mark LT

NEWS:   Ford Recalls 57,000 More Trucks, SUVS for Fire Hazard

Latest recall unrelated to other fire-related Ford recalls

ConsumerAffairs.Com -- February 11, 2008 -- Ford Motor Co. is recalling another 57,199 trucks and SUVs warning that the vehicles might catch fire because of a design flaw.

The latest Ford fire recall covers 2006 and 2007 trucks and SUV equipped with the 5.4 liter engine. They are the 2006-2007 E-150, E-250, E-350 trucks and the 2007 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.

The fire hazard in the Ford vehicles is caused by the fuel rail cross-over hose, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

NHTSA reports that the hose may crack, which could cause a fuel odor or a fuel leak. “Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire,” NHTSA warns.

More Recall Info:  

• Ford Expedition

• Lincoln Navigator

• E-150, E-250, E-350

NEWS:   Ford recalling vehicles over door handles and fuel hoses

WASHINGTON (AP) -- 2/11/2008 The Associated Press- 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. However, in a side crash, there could be a risk of the door latch opening because of the problems, he said.

Ford spokesman 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....

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......there have been no reports of fires, injuries or crashes. Dealers will replace the fuel rail assembly.

More Recall Information:   Ford Expedition  -   Lincoln Navigator