Ford Recalling More Than 200,000 Transit Connects and Escapes for Malfunctioning Instrument Panel Clusters
It’s been a few weeks since we last posted about a Ford recall, but it’s that time again. This one covers roughly 203,500 2014-2015 Transit Connects and Escapes in North America.
According to Ford, “Affected vehicles include certain 2014-2015 Transit Connect vehicles built at Valencia Assembly Plant in Spain, May 13, 2014 to Dec. 10, 2014 and certain 2014-2015 Escape vehicles built at Louisville Assembly Plant, May 19, 2014 to Feb. 6, 2015.”
The bulk of those, 182,520, are in the United States and its federalized territories. Another 18,226 are in Canada. Mexico is home to 2,699.
The cluster, warning chimes and lights, and messages in those vehicles may not work upon startup. Ford states that malfunction could increase the risk of a crash. Fortunately, no one seems to have been involved in an accident because of or injured by this issue.
A separate recall only affects 49 Transit vehicles being operated by one fleet customer in the United States. The 2015 vans, built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant, have a special-order front passenger seat belt that lacks proper Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards labeling. Ford isn’t aware of anyone who’s been harmed by this problem.
Dealers will perform a free software update to correct the first recall. A Ford-selected representative will apply new labels to take care of the second one.
PRESS RELEASE
FORD ISSUES TWO SAFETY COMPLIANCE RECALLS IN NORTH AMERICA
DEARBORN, Mich., June 24, 2015 – Ford is issuing two safety compliance recalls in North America. There are no accidents or injuries attributed to these conditions. Details are as follows:
Ford issues safety compliance recall for certain 2014-2015 Transit Connect and Escape vehicles for instrument panel issue
Ford Motor Company is issuing a safety compliance recall for approximately 203,500 2014-2015 Transit Connect and Escape vehicles in North America for an issue with the instrument panel cluster. When starting the vehicle, the instrument cluster, warning chimes, messages and warning lights may not work, which is a compliance issue with FMVSS 101 and other applicable FMVSS requirements. If these displays don’t work as intended, it could increase the risk of a crash.
Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with this issue.
Affected vehicles include certain 2014-2015 Transit Connect vehicles built at Valencia Assembly Plant in Spain, May 13, 2014 to Dec. 10, 2014 and certain 2014-2015 Escape vehicles built at Louisville Assembly Plant, May 19, 2014 to Feb. 6, 2015.
There are 203,445 vehicles in North America, including 182,520 in the United States and federalized territories, 18,226 in Canada and 2,699 in Mexico.
Dealers will update the instrument panel cluster software at no cost to the customer.
Ford issues safety compliance recall in United States for one fleet customer’s 2015 Transit vehicles for seat belt labeling issue
Ford Motor Company is issuing a safety compliance recall for one fleet customer’s 49 2015-model Transit vehicles in the United States for a seat belt labeling issue. These vehicles have a special-order front passenger seat belt that works properly, but was mislabeled by the supplier and does not contain information required by FMVSS 209 regarding seat belts.
Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this condition.
Affected vehicles include certain 2015 Transit vehicles built for one fleet customer at Kansas City Assembly Plant, March 1, 2015 to April 10, 2015.
A representative selected by Ford will install a new label on the seat belt anchor that includes the required information.
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via [Autoblog]
photos [Ford]
