Ford is recalling over 285,000 vehicles for a variety of unrelated issues concerning automatic transmissions, faulty tires, rear suspension links, airbag inflators and driver’s seat tracks.
The biggest issue affects the automatic transmissions in 2011-2012 F-150 pickups, and 2012 Mustangs, Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators. The problem lies with the output speed sensor in the 6R80 transmission, which could force an unexpected temporary downshift into first gear. Depending on the speed of the vehicle, it could cause the rear wheels to lock-up or initiate a slide, which could lead to loss of vehicle control and result in a crash.
Ford is aware of three incidents related to the issue but no injuries. Owners of the 201,900 vehicles (17,900 in Canada and the rest in the US) will be asked to attend the nearest dealership for inspection of certain diagnostic trouble codes, to update the powertrain control module software and to replace the lead frame in which the output speed sensor is located.
The F-Series (particularly 2016 Super Duty models) is also the basis of another recall to inspect and replace tires that may have been damaged from a conveyor during vehicle assembly. The resultant sidewall damage could result in a blow out at high speed, which could result in a crash.
The condition could affect 2,596 trucks (2,288 in the US, 271 in Canada and 37 in Mexico), though Ford is not aware of any incidents or injuries.
A third recall affects 2014-2015 Ford Explorers and Police Interceptor utility vehicles to replace rear suspension toe links that could fracture due to poor welds, and could result in noise, steering difficulty and/or complete loss of steering control.
The problem could be present in 81,036 SUVs (4,615 in Canada, 75,364 in the US and 1,057 in Mexico), with Ford aware of one incident and a corresponding injury. Dealers will replace the left and right rear suspension toe links and align the rear suspension.
Ford is also issuing a couple safety compliances, the first of which affects Flex crossover vehicles, and Taurus, Lincoln MKS and Mercury Sable sedans, all from 2007-2012 model years.
In those models, the second stage inflator in the steering wheel airbag may not have been filled with the necessary chemical enhancer, which could result in injury to the driver in a crash that requires a second-stage deployment (but does not affect primary-stage airbag deployment).
Ford is not aware of any incidents or injuries related to the problem, and points out that the issue is not associated to the massive Takata airbag recall. Dealers will replace the driver-side airbag module on the 199 vehicles affected, with the crossover vehicles built at the Oakville, Ontario plant.
The other safety compliance concerns 39 Fusion sedans built in the middle of March 2016 at the Hermosillo assembly plant in Mexico. They have potentially weak driver’s seat track assemblies resulting from improper welds in the seat mounting bracket attachments to the seat track rails.
Again, the company is not aware of any incidents or injuries.