Ford is recalling roughly 43,000 compact SUVs because fuel injectors can spill gasoline onto hot engine surfaces, causing fires. Fuel leak repairs are not part of the recall.
In documents filed with U.S. safety authorities, Ford claims fuel injectors can break and gasoline or vapor might build near ignition sources, possibly starting fires.
Dealers attach tubes to direct gasoline from hot surfaces to the ground below the car. Engine control software will be updated to detect fuel injection pressure drops. According to documents provided Wednesday on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website, the software will disable the high-pressure fuel pump, restrict engine output, and lower engine compartment temperatures.
In an email, Ford said it is not replacing fuel injectors since recall repairs “will prevent the failure from occurring and protect the customer.” The company stated the new software will activate a dashboard warning light and allow drivers to drive to a safe spot, halt, and arrange for service. Ford filed NHTSA documentation stating that only 1% of SUVs have the issue.
Cracked fuel injectors will be replaced under the company's extended warranty. Ford said repairs are available and the extended warranty will be announced in June.
Ford said it was an extension of a 2022 recall for the same issue. Ford says the remedy has been tested on vehicles in the last recall and found no issues. The business also advised against parking SUVs outdoors because there is no evidence that fires start while engines are off.
Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, branded Ford's fuel leak fix a “Band-aid type recall” and said the firm is trying to dodge fuel injector repairs.
He claimed 1% failure rate is significant, and even after repairs, cars may have to exit a freeway at low speed, putting them at risk of a crash. He added NHTSA should focus more on fundamental causes of automobile issues than cheaper remedies in recalls.
NHTSA previously denied legal power to pre-approve recall remedies. On Wednesday, the agency said it will “closely track their performance using field data.” The agency advised owners to contact Ford or their dealership with queries.
Brooks suggested Congress amend the law to “require something more than the rubber stamp that NHTSA is currently deploying” on recalls. The agency has been reviewing recall repairs more aggressively, he added. “That post-remedy inquiry won't improve the fixes, stretches out the process, and leaves consumers in limbo,” he said.
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