- Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified April 1, Ford said
- The recall affects certain Bronco Sport SUV models from 2022 and 2023
- The company said there had been no reports of crashes or injuries
Ford is recalling more than 40,000 small SUVs amidst fears of gas leaks which have already caused five under-hood fires.
The recall covers certain Bronco Sport SUVs from the 2022 and 2023 model years as well as Escape SUVs from 2022. All 42,652 have 1.5-liter engines.
In documents filed to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Ford said the fuel injectors can leak causing gas to leak into ignition sources and possibly spark fires.
The company said it has received reports of five under-hood fires and 14 warranty replacements of fuel injectors – but no reports of crashes or injuries.
Affected owners will be notified by letter this month.
Ford is recalling more than 40,000 small SUVs amidst fears of gas leaks which have already caused five fires. Pictured: a 2023 Ford Bronco Sports SUV
The recall covers certain Bronco Sport SUVs from the 2022 and 2023 model years as well as Escape SUVs from 2022. Pictured: a 2023 Ford Bronco Sports SUV
Dealers will install a tube to let gasoline flow away from hot surfaces to the ground below the vehicle. They´ll also update engine control software to detect a pressure drop in the fuel injection system.
If that happens, the software will disable the high-pressure fuel pump, reduce engine power and cut temperatures in the engine compartment.
Ford is not replacing the fuel injectors but says it is confident the repairs ‘will prevent the failure from occurring and protect the customer.’
The new software also will trigger a dashboard warning light and allow customers to drive to a safe location, stop the vehicle and arrange for service, the company said.
The company said it has received reports of five under hood fires and 14 warranty replacements of fuel injectors – but no reports of crashes or injuries
Affected owners will be notified by letter this month. Pictured: Ford Motor CEO Jim Farley
NHTSA documents filed by Ford say the problem happens only in about 1 percent of the SUVs.
The company also said it will extend warranty coverage for cracked fuel injectors, so owners who experience the problem will get replacements.
Ford said repairs are already available, and details of the extended warranty will be available in June.
Ford said the recall is an extension of a 2022 recall for the same problem. The repair has already been tested on vehicles involved in the previous recall. It is not aware of any problems.
Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, called Ford’s remedy for the fuel leaks a ‘Band-aid type recall,’ adding the company is trying to avoid the cost of repairing the fuel injectors.
