Federal auto regulators have announced a probe into a Ford recall of nearly 43,000 automobiles following an error with cracked fuel injectors they say can cause gas leaks and ignite engine fires.
In a summary report dated Thursday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wrote it was opening an investigation into a recall of Ford Bronco and Escape vehicle by the automaker headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan.
According to a letter addressed to Ford from the NHTSA, the error impacted about 42,652 (or 1%) of the SUVs produced in 2022 and 2023.
The safety regulator posted documents online announcing the probe just two days after the recall was made public.
As of Friday, no injuries connected to the recall had been reported by the NHTSA.
What Ford models are being recalled?
The following Ford models are affected in the recent recall:
22,270 Bronco Sport vehicles from 2022 and 2023
20,382 Escape vehicles from 2022
All the recalled SUVs have 1.5-liter engines, NTHSA said.
What should I do if my Ford Bronco or Escape is recalled?
According to the federal investigation announcement, owners can take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have a drain tube installed in the vehicle at no cost.
The remedy also includes a free engine control software update to detect a pressure drop in the fuel injection system, the federal regulator reported. Should that occur, the software will disable the high pressure fuel pump, reduce engine power and cut temps in the engine compartment. Owners also will get a “seek service” message, documents show.
But according to safety regulators, the automakers remedy enables fuel to drain from a cylinder head hole to the ground below the vehicle.
“The recall remedy does not include replacement of the cracked fuel injector,” NTHSA wrote.
When did Ford notify owners about the recall?
Dealers, the NHTSA reported, were notified on March 11 about the recall.
Ford said it began notifying owners whether their vehicle is affected on April 1.
Drivers can check the NHTSA website to see if their vehicle has been affected by the recall.
Ford’s number for this recall is 24S16. This recall is an expansion of previous recall: 22V-859.
For more information, owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ford recall: Bronco, Escape SUVs recalled, probe opened by feds
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The Ford Motor Company has issued a recall affecting close to 43,000 SUVs.
According to The Associated Press, some of the company’s Escape SUVs from 2022 and Bronco Sport SUVs from 2022 and 2023 are getting recalled due to concerns about their fuel injectors.
“Ford says in documents filed with U.S. safety regulators that fuel injectors can crack, and gasoline or vapor can accumulate near ignition sources, possibly touching off fires,” The Associated Press reported.
How Ford is treating the issue
The recall — which affects 42,652 vehicles that have 1.5-liter engines — will aim to remedy the cracked fuel injectors, per Autoblog. Specifically, it will involve installing a drain tube “to redirect any leaking fuel from the engine to the ground” in addition to installing a software update that adds “fuel injector leak detection to the engine control unit.”
The Associated Press reported that the software will monitor for “a pressure drop” in the fuel injection system. If it observes one, it will “disable the high pressure fuel pump, reduce engine power and cut temperatures in the engine compartment.”
The fuel injectors are mostly staying
In an email sent to The Associated Press, Ford explained that it’s not completely replacing the fuel injectors because it believes the planned repairs “will prevent the failure from occurring and protect the customer.” Additionally, the updated software will notify drivers via a dashboard warning if there’s an issue, allowing them to stop and arrange for help.
A report filed by Ford to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, says that only about 1% of the recalled vehicles are estimated to have the defect.
“The company says in documents it has reports of five under-hood fires and 14 warranty replacements of fuel injectors, but no reports of crashes or injuries,” per The Associated Press.
The company says it will extend its warranty coverage for cracked fuel injectors. Details of the extension will be made available in June, but owners who experience the issue can get replacements.
Affected owners were notified by letter starting on April 1, according to The Associated Press
Other Ford recalls
The SUV recall, according to The Associated Press, extends from a 2022 Ford recall centered on the same issue.
That past SUV recall was much bigger, involving more than half a million Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles. The current recall was put in place when Ford realized the problem applied “to more vehicles than previously thought,” per Consumer Reports.
What to do if your vehicle is recalled
According to Consumer Reports, the recalled models are:
Ford Bronco Sport SUVs manufactured from Oct. 17, 2022, to Jan. 13, 2023.
Ford Escape SUVs manufactured from Oct. 17, 2022, to Dec. 15, 2022.
You can check the NHTSA’s website to see if your vehicle is part of this recall or others.
Owners of the affected Ford models can call Ford at 866-436-7332 to arrange for dealers to repair the vehicles free of charge, per Consumer Reports.
After a much larger recall in 2022, Ford is recalling an additional 42,652 Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs from the 2022 and 2023 model years because a fuel injector may crack and leak gasoline inside the engine compartment, which could cause a fire. Only vehicles with the 1.5-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder engine are included in the recall.