Feds: ‘Significant Safety Concerns’ Over Ford SUV Fires Recall

Federal safety regulators say Ford Motor Co. needs to do more to address fire risks in some of its popular sport utility vehicles.

Ford’s plan to fix certain Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs at risk of going up in flames does not address the root causes of the problem, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The company announced in March that it was recalling some 42,000 SUVs over fire risks caused by faulty fuel injectors. Ford said at the time that it would issue a software update and install new drains in the vehicles, rather than replacing the injectors.

NHTSA “has identified significant safety concerns regarding the recall’s remedy program,” the company said in a letter to Ford that was recently made public. “The remedy program does not address the root cause of the issue and does not proactively call for the replacement of defective fuel injectors prior to their failure.”

The recall covers certain 2022-2023 Ford Bronco Sport SUVs, which were produced between October 2022 and January 2023. Ford also recalled 2022 Escape SUVs, produced between October and December 2022.

The company said it was aware of at least five fires in those vehicles but no reports of accidents or injuries.

NHTSA asked Ford to respond to an extensive list of questions regarding the recall and the fix, Reuters reports.

The company issued a similar recall in 2022, calling back more than half a million Escape and Bronco Sport SUVs. It cited the same faulty fuel injector problem and used the same fix. At the time, it said it had received more than 50 reports of fires in the recalled vehicles, including four injuries.

Ford Owners’ Rights in California

Ford has issued more safety recalls nationwide than any other auto manufacturer in each of the last three years.

Ford announced 58 recalls over last year, accounting for roughly 16% of all call backs nationwide, according to data from NHTSA. The total was about 30% more than the 45 recalls by Chrysler, the second-most called back brand last year.

That trend is continuing in 2024. The company said in April, for instance, that it would recall some 400 new Mustangs over different fire risks. Ford more recently called back 240,000 240,000 Maverick pickup trucks, citing a tail light defect.

Fortunately, Ford owners in California do not need to wait around for a recall to get defective cars repaired. You have some important legal rights and protections under the state’s lemon law. 

The lemon law generally requires car manufacturers to perform a variety of repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces manufacturers to buy back vehicles that they are unable or simply refuse to fix. That means compensating the owner for the vehicle’s purchase price, as well as financing charges, rental car costs and other related expenses.

Talk with a Los Angeles Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a Los Angeles lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a Los Angeles lemon law attorney.