Ford Issues Recall For 230,000 More Vehicles Due To Fire Risk

The spunky Fiesta ST, as well as the Fusion, Escape, and Transit Connect could catch fire, while three other recalls cover door latches, drive shafts, and a windshield header weld.

byGabriel Loewenberg|
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Fiesta ST enthusiasts should keep an eye on their coolant levels. Ford has issued a recall of several vehicles that are fitted with it's 1.6L GTDI engine. A coolant circulation issues could result in fire. Ford says the lack of circulation may lead to a cracked cylinder head, causing pressurized oil to leak out on to hot engine surfaces, ending with said oil igniting under the hood. In case you didn't know, this is not ideal. Ford will be sending a mailer to affected owners with instructions on checking the coolant level and keeping it properly filled. A press release states "Customers can continue to drive their vehicles, but should see their dealer if their vehicle exhibits a coolant leak, overheating or frequently needs coolant added. When service kits are available, dealers will install a coolant level sensor with supporting hardware and software at no charge to the customer."

It's unclear what is causing the "circulation issue". Is there a component that is prone to leaks? Is there a design or manufacturing flaw that is causing poor circulation where boiling coolant gets dumped in to and then overflows from the expansion tank? It may be a combination of both. The Ford Escape and Fusion with the 1.6L GTDI have been previously recalled several times for this and similar issues. With each recall, a slightly different problem and solution are found. Now, more vehicles with the 1.6L GTDI engine are being recalled. There have been 29 fires (but thankfully no injuries) reported. These issues have been talked about on various Ford online forums. In this thread, some Edge owners seem as mystified as Ford. Hopefully, Ford will get to the root cause(s) as this ongoing issue is quite serious.

The affected vehicles are:

  • 2014 Escape – Louisville Assembly Plant, Feb. 12, 2013 to Sept. 2, 2014
  • 2014-15 Fiesta ST – Cuautitlan Assembly Plant, Jan. 22, 2013 to May 27, 2014
  • 2013-14 Fusion – Hermosillo Assembly Plant, Feb. 15, 2012 to June 6, 2014
  • 2013-15 Transit Connect – Valencia Assembly Plant, June 13, 2013 to Dec. 14, 2014

Ford is also expanding a recall for for faulty door latches on three models. The broken latch could lead to a door opening while driving. 

Those vehicles include:

  • 2014 Fiesta – Cuautitlan Assembly Plant, June 1, 2013 to Oct. 31, 2013

  • 2014 Fusion – Flat Rock Assembly Plant, June 18, 2013 to Oct. 31, 2013

  • 2013-14 Fusion – Hermosillo Assembly Plant, June 1, 2013 to Oct. 31, 2013

  • 2013-14 Lincoln MKZ – Hermosillo Assembly Plant, June 1, 2013 to Oct. 31, 2013

A third recall issued today by Ford is to replace the drive shaft on two models of trucks. At speeds of 75mph and above, a resonance frequency could fracture the transmission. That may sound like some freaky-geeky Star Trek talk, but having a catastrophic transmission failure at highway speeds is very dangerous. 

The two trucks are: 

  • 2017 F-450/F-550 – Kentucky Assembly Plant, June 6, 2016 to Feb. 21, 2017

  • 2017 F-450/F-550 – Ohio Assembly Plant, Feb. 16, 2016 to Feb. 21, 2017 

The final Ford recall is for 2017 Edge vehicles that were built at the Oakville Assembly Plant between 2/21/17 and 2/22/17. They have an improper windshield header weld that needs to be fixed.

If you have any of these vehicles, keep eye out for a letter from Ford on how to get it repaired.

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