Ford recollects almost 43,000 SUVs attributable to gasoline leaks that may trigger fires, however treatment will not repair leaks

DETROIT — Ford is recalling almost 43,000 small SUVs as a result of gasoline can leak from the gas injectors onto scorching engine surfaces, growing the chance of fires. However the recall treatment doesn’t embrace repairing the gas leaks.

The recall covers sure Bronco Sport SUVs from the 2022 and 2023 mannequin years, in addition to Escape SUVs from 2022. All have 1.5-liter engines.

Ford says in paperwork filed with U.S. security regulators that gas injectors can crack, and gasoline or vapor can accumulate close to ignition sources, presumably touching off fires.

Sellers will set up a tube to let gasoline stream away from scorching surfaces to the bottom under the car. They will additionally replace engine management software program to detect a strain drop within the gas injection system. If that occurs, the software program will disable the high-pressure gas pump, cut back engine energy and lower temperatures within the engine compartment, in response to paperwork posted Wednesday on the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration web site.

House owners had been to be notified by letter beginning April 1.

The corporate says in paperwork it has experiences of 5 under-hood fires and 14 guarantee replacements of gas injectors, however no experiences of crashes or accidents.

In an e-mail, Ford stated it’s not changing gas injectors as a result of it’s assured the recall repairs “will forestall the failure from occurring and shield the client.” The brand new software program additionally will set off a dashboard warning gentle and permit clients to drive to a protected location, cease the car and organize for service, the corporate stated. Security administration paperwork filed by Ford say the issue occurs solely in about 1% of the SUVs.

The corporate additionally stated it is going to prolong guarantee protection for cracked gas injectors, so house owners who expertise the issue will get replacements. Ford stated repairs are already obtainable, and particulars of the prolonged guarantee will likely be obtainable in June.

Ford stated the recall is an extension of a 2022 recall for a similar drawback. The restore has already been examined on autos concerned within the earlier recall, and Ford stated it isn’t conscious of any issues.

The corporate additionally stated it is not recommending that the SUVs be parked solely outdoor as a result of there isn’t any proof that fires occur when autos are parked and the engines are off.

Michael Brooks, govt director of the nonprofit Middle for Auto Security, referred to as Ford’s treatment for the gas leaks a “Band-Support kind recall” and stated the corporate is attempting to keep away from the price of repairing the gas injectors.

A 1% failure price, he stated, is excessive, and even with the repairs, drivers nonetheless could possibly be compelled to exit a freeway at a low velocity, inserting them vulnerable to a crash.

The security administration, he stated, ought to do extra to verify recollects repair the basis causes of auto issues fairly than making less-costly repairs.

Prior to now, the protection board has stated it doesn’t have authorized authority to pre-approve recall fixes. However in a press release Wednesday, the company stated it is going to “carefully observe their efficiency utilizing discipline knowledge.” The company stated house owners who’ve questions ought to contact their dealership or Ford.

Brooks stated Congress ought to change the legislation so the company can “require one thing greater than the rubber stamp that NHTSA is at the moment deploying” on recollects.

The company, he stated, has been extra aggressive of late in investigating recall fixes. “That may be a post-remedy inquiry that will not make the fixes higher, and additional stretches out the method and leaves shoppers in limbo,” he stated.